Adams 'baffled' by live TV snub for County

Published on Friday 10 October 2008 23:24

DEREK Adams yesterday admitted that he was stunned by the BBC's decision to televise the Partick Thistle v Airdrie United Alba Challenge Cup semi-final.

The Ross County manager felt sure his team's last-four clash at home to Morton tomorrow would be the natural choice, given the large population of Gaels in the Highlands.

Adams, though, is urging his on-form men to repeat last weekend's 3-0 beating of the Cappielow side to ensure the cameras roll for them in the final.

The 33-year-old player-manager said: "I am absolutely dumbfounded by BBC Alba's decision. We obviously have a very big Gaelic-speaking population within our area and there was as much as 300,000 spent recently on Gaelic road signs.

"It baffles me, but it is up to us to try and win through to what will be a televised final."

The Dingwall club won the trophy two years ago in a season that also saw them relegated from the First Division, and last May's Second Division title success means that County are gunning for their third piece of silverware in as many years.

Adams played in the final, where Clyde were beaten on penalties, but admits that league matters tower over the cup competition.

He stressed: "Winning the Challenge Cup two years ago was a good achievement at the time, and it is good to be in the semi-final. Our primary aim is progress in the league, but I don't see this as a distraction."

Adams is still without David Winters and Joe Malin, although both are likely to return to training within the next ten days. Skipper Stuart Golabek also remains absent for personal reasons while former Dundee United and Dundee defender Danny Griffin continues his long battle back to full fitness.

Morton, who have kept their best performances for cup games this season, including travelling to Dumfries in the last round and knocking out Queen of the South, are out to avenge last week's reverse in Dingwall.

Manager David Irons said: "It is careless errors that have been costing us. As I have said before, we are only inches away from changing results. It is not as if there is the width of the Grand Canyon between us and any other team.

"If each player can improve their concentration by five per cent that will make the difference and that is what we are asking them to do."

Fit again defender David MacGregor is added and Eric Paartalu is available before a league suspension kicks in, but captain Stewart Greacen is still out.