Sheerin aiming to help cup specialists pull off more heroics

Published on Monday 12 January 2009 23:18

CUP specialist Paul Sheerin has enjoyed recounting famous tales of triumphs down the years and now believes the pressure is off St Johnstone to achieve another against Scottish Cup holders Rangers tonight.

The 34-year-old midfielder has developed a useful habit of helping past and present clubs upset loftier opponents in cup competitions in a decorated career.

Being part of the Inverness Caledonian Thistle side that "went ballistic" to knock out Celtic in the 2000 Scottish Cup, thereby costing John Barnes his job, is an obvious highlight but others stand out too.

Sheerin was soon involved in more cup surprises with Ayr United in 2002, losing the League Cup final to Rangers before returning to Hampden six days later to be beaten by Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final. The left-sided player's four-and-a-half-year stay at McDiarmid Park has not been without notable highs either, even if the club have consistently failed in their bid to return to the SPL since relegation in 2002.

Sheerin has helped see off SPL teams Dundee United, Rangers, Falkirk, Motherwell and St Mirren to book a trio of semi-final appearances for Saints in the last two seasons.

While all three matches ended in narrow defeats – to Hibs in the League Cup and Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish Cup – the Perth outfit have certainly illustrated their capabilities in one-off ties.

Now with the pressure totally off the in-form First Division leaders at home tonight, Sheerin hopes a relaxed attitude can provide the key to another famous cup scalp against Walter Smith's men.

Sheerin, part of Derek McInnes' side that lost to Rangers on penalties in the semi at Hampden last April, said: "It's a massive game and the home draw adds up to a wee chance for us. We're classed as underdogs, obviously, but I think that helps you sometimes, you can go and relax and you've really got nothing to lose.

"In the league at the moment, we've got to keep trying to win matches and have to break teams down.

"We're not expected to win this one and it would be a huge upset if we did. It takes a wee bit of pressure of us and hopefully adds a little bit to them.

"I think we know we have to play at our maximum and hope they have a slight off night. We hope to get a few chances to score and fingers crossed, we can cause an upset. There have not been many over the weekend, maybe only Ayr drawing with Kilmarnock, and it would be nice to achieve one." The postponement of their last league game at Ross County means Saints will not have played for 17 days before the live action gets underway before the BBC cameras.

But Sheerin does not see that as a disadvantage, admitting he is more concerned about whether Kris Boyd will play or not, with his much-discussed move to Birmingham City apparently not yet dead.

Saints have been boosted ahead of tonight's match after Hibs gave the Perth side permission to field on-loan defender Paul Hanlon.

Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen had blocked the 18-year-old – on an initial month loan at McDiarmid Park – from playing to avoid the left-sided player being cup-tied.

But Hibs' early cup exit to city rivals Hearts on Sunday has changed all that, with Paatelainen now giving the green light to Saints to involve the Scotland Under-19 international against Rangers.

The news is a lift to the First Division leaders as Hanlon has quickly impressed McInnes on and off the park since his arrival from Easter Road last month.

Midfielder Liam Craig has been filling in at left-back for Saints for the majority of the season, but Hanlon could now step in against the cup holders.

McInnes, who has fitness doubts over Craig, Martin Hardie, Peter MacDonald and Steven Milne as he seeks the club's first Scottish Cup win against Rangers over a 100-year period, said: "Paul can play tonight as Hibs have agreed to that. He is in the squad.

"We'd been preparing for the game without him, but he now gives us another option."

McInnes warned Rangers they can expect to face an even stronger Saints side than the one they beat on penalties at Hampden last year.

"We are 14 games undefeated and I feel we are better equipped as a team than we were that day," he said.