Nicholas wants a repeat of upset against Hibs

MONTROSE striker Stevie Nicholas will pitch up at Easter Road in Saturday's Active Nation Scottish Cup clash intent on turning back the clock and proving lightning can strike twice in the same place.

As a callow 17-year-old, Nicholas stunned the Hibs' support as he fired Stirling Albion into a shock lead at the Capital ground, and as he and his team-mates looked like holding out for a memorable win until Paul Lovering equalised minutes before the final whistle.

But even then, Hibs' relief was short-lived as they were bundled out of the competition at Forthbank ten days later when Chris Jackson came back to haunt then manager Alex McLeish, who had released him from Easter Road, claimed the winner.

Even today, some 11 years later, the memories of those two matches remain vivid in Nicholas' mind and, he revealed, he'll use those experiences to convince his current team-mates that anything is possible over the course of 90 minutes.

However, Nicholas acknowledged Montrose face an even tougher task than way back then when Hibs were in the First Division – although McLeish's players were in the midst of a 22-match unbeaten run which would see them take the title by 23 points – and Stirling Albion in the Second.

Today, 39 places separate the two sides, John Hughes' players third in the SPL table while the "Gable Endies," managed by former Hibs star Steven Tweed, languish at the bottom of the Third Division, their victory over Berwick Rangers last weekend their first in 20 attempts in the League.

However, Tweed's team have enjoyed better luck in the Cup, beating Banks o'Dee, East Fife and Edinburgh City to earn the right to have a stab at a giant-killing act.

And Nicholas, who scored the opening goal in that 3-1 win over Edinburgh City which ended hopes of a Capital derby, insisted the part-timers of Montrose can also take heart from Irvine Meadow's performance in the previous round at Easter Road, the Ayrshire Junior outfit eventually succumbing to goals from Derek Riordan, Merouane Zemmama and Paul Hanlon.

He said: "We've got a lot of young boys in our side – I'm one of the oldest at 28 – but they'll be going out there with absolutely no pressure on them at all.

"I'd only seen Hibs on television before that day in 1999 and, being young, it was just another game to me.

"Everyone thought we were going through to Edinburgh to be destroyed because Hibs were going so well at that time and had players like Mixu Paatelainen, Russell Latapy, Stevie Crawford, Paul Hartley, Pat McGinlay and Stuart Lovell in their side.

"We had the experience of John Philliben and Brian Martin at the back and that helped immensely as they talked us through the game and the replay. We came through determined to give it our all and not to be back in the dressing room with any regrets.

"Our game plan was to keep it tight and it worked for us, no team likes playing a side from a lower League and at the end of the day we were more disappointed at drawing than happy because we led through my goal for so long before Hibs equalised."

While most assumed Stirling Albion's chance had gone, Nicholas insisted nothing was farther from their minds. Even when Latapy cancelled out David McCallum's opener that faith never wavered.

He said: "I think that game was made for Chris Jackson. He'd been released by Hibs so, I suppose, it was inevitable that if anyone was going to score the goal to knock them out it would be him.

"A photograph of our team was on the back of the local paper and I've got a big picture on the wall at home, it's nice to look at it as something we achieved.

"It just goes to show what Cup football is all about, you never know what is going to happen in football and we saw how well Irvine Meadow did at Easter Road despite Hibs having their full team out."

Nicholas, a warehouseman, revealed his exploits against Hibs almost earned him a move to Easter Road, his performances having impressed McLeish while Middlesbrough were also interested. But he moved on to Motherwell – returning to score at Easter Road in a 2-2 draw on the opening day of the following season.

Since then he's become a man of many clubs, moving back to Stirling Albion and on to Alloa Athletic, Partick Thistle, Stranraer, East Fife, Queen's Park and now Montrose. Even now, though, he admits to having a soft spot for Hibs, revealing he took his father, John, to watch Hughes' side at home against Falkirk recently having successfully bid for a hospitality package in a charity auction.

He said: "There was some talk of Hibs and Middlesbrough. I wasn't keen to leave my hometown club but they needed the money and Billy Davies at Motherwell stumped up the cash.

"I was at Easter Road just before Christmas and Hibs are a formidable team, full of players capable of scoring goals and, as the SPL table shows, they are going really well. But, as I said, the pressure is on them. For us the game will take care of itself. We'll make sure we approach it in the right manner and see what happens on the day."

Nicholas, of course, isn't the only Montrose player looking forward to reacquainting himself with Easter Road with boss Tweed, goalkeeper Andy McNeil and forward Paul Tosh all one-time Hibs stars.

He said: "I think it will be an emotional day for the gaffer, taking his own team back to a club were he is well respected. Andy is a great goalkeeper and I am sure he'll be looking forward to the chance to show Hibs were wrong to let him go.

"But Paul is gutted because he can't play. He was Cup-tied playing for Cove Rangers against Annan Athletic so he'll be cheering us on from the sidelines.

"It would be wonderful if we could keep our Cup run going by beating Hibs but the League has to be our priority. The table doesn't lie and what it does tell you is that we haven't been playing as well as we should so it will be nice to get away from the League for a bit and enjoy the experience of playing Hibs at Easter Road...and you never know."