Students to take the high road early

The University head coach, Douglas Samuel, as always, is meticulous in his preparations for such an important game and feels that travelling on the previous evening will be beneficial to his players.

"An early-morning start with a five-hour coach journey would not have been ideal preparations for what is a massive game for the players of Edinburgh University," said Samuel.

"We always try to prepare as professionally as possible and by travelling up tonight it gives the players more of an opportunity to be successful tomorrow."

The replay is necessary because last Saturday, in a dramatic ending to the game, the students scored in the 90th minute to make the score 2-1 in their favour but Brora equalised straight from the restart.

"First and foremost, it was an excellent game of football with both teams on top at various stages," said Samuel.

"It was certainly an exciting and open game for the neutrals with both sides intent on playing attacking football. Both Brora and ourselves have had very good starts to the season so both of us were high in confidence.

"When we scored very late on I think that we thought we had won the game and that's what cost us. There was understandable euphoria on the pitch and our lack of experience was probably our undoing.

"However, my players can take a great deal of satisfaction for playing the entire second-half with only ten men because we were always a threat and a second goal always looked a possibility.

"I was delighted with the displays of our younger players like Calum Murray and Colin Cameron while James Craigen was exceptional."

The Scottish Cup second-round draw was made at Hampden Park on Wednesday and paired the winners of tomorrow's game with SFL Third Division club Elgin City.

Edinburgh University are laying on free transport for supporters, contact Irene McTernan on 0131-650 2346.