Yogi hoping Cup run can boost coffers

Published on Friday 9 January 2009 08:49

WITH the 1-1 draw at home to Kilmarnock last Saturday having finally ended a run of four successive defeats, Falkirk host First Division side Queen of the South in the fourth round of the Homecoming Scottish Cup tomorrow.

And manager John Hughes is hopeful that a victory will provide a massive boost to the confidence of his players who are currently entrenched in the SPL relegation battle.

"After the draw last week, it would be good to build on that result with a win tomorrow," said Yogi.

"However, I'm taking nothing for granted. Queens gave us a hard game here in the CIS Cup earlier in the season and they reached the final of this competition last time round so they are clearly a good Cup side.

"I have great respect for Gordon Chisholm as a manager and I know it will be difficult."

Hughes has seen Bairns players Scott Flinders, Russell Latapy and John Stewart leave the club in recent weeks and, while he has been told that no money is currently available to buy replacements, he feels that a run in the Cup might give him some much needed financial leverage.

"There's no cash at all on the table just now" he said, "but maybe if we win tomorrow and get a good draw in the next round then there might be some negotiation available.

"My main problem concerns lack of an experienced back-up goalkeeper.

"Neither Jamie Barclay nor Michael Allan are ready for the first team yet. Jamie's cup-tied tomorrow so Michael will be on the bench. I just have to hope that Robert Olejnik comes through the game unscathed."

Club captain Darren Barr returns to action after a one-game suspension but Gerard Aafjes will be unavailable through injury.