Baikie bemoans injuries as Rose face Camelon

DAVE BAIKIE fears Linlithgow's hopes of landing the first piece of silverware up for grabs in the East Region this season could be scuppered by a spate of injuries.

The Rose boss has seen three players - Iain Nimmo, Adam Nelson and Scott Wilson - suffer hamstring strains after the Prestonfield club started training on 3G pitches.

They're all likely to miss tomorrow night's Dechmont Forklift League Cup Final against Camelon at Bathgate's Creamery Park (7.15pm kick-off).

And Baikie is also sweating over the fitness of goalkeeper Stephen Pinkowski, who injured his ankle in training last Wednesday.

"We've just moved on to the 3G pitches for the first time and I don't know if these Hamstring injuries are a reaction to that," said the Linlithgow manager.

"Iain Nimmo is out for a month and Adam Nelson (who went off along with Scott Wilson in Saturday's East of Scotland Cup win at Oakley] could be the same, we'll just have to wait and see."

Tomorrow night's clash is a repeat of last season's final in the same competition - Camelon coming out on top then in a match that was played much later in the campaign after being postponed due to the weather.

"I'm certainly not making any excuses but we went into that game having just come off the back of getting into the final of the Scottish Cup," recalled Baikie.

"I think an element of complacency crept in as a result of that and we weren't at the races in the first-half.

"Camelon deserved to be 2-0 up but we were the better side in the second-half and had a goal that never was to possibly give us an equaliser.

"The fact we are back in the final again with Camelon is a chance to make amends and hopefully we can take that opportunity.

"It's always a great thing to get the first piece of silverware on the table - it can set you up nicely for the rest of the season.

"However, Camelon are a good side, they've got no weaknesses in their team and, of course, beat Bo'ness to get to the final."

Ronnie McPherson, who was Linlithgow's penalty hero as he deputised for Pinkowski at Oakley, is ready to step up to the plate again tomorrow night.

"You live in hope," said the veteran stopper. "Pini is No.?1 at the club and is a good goalkeeper but it would be nice to get a chance in the final."