Cup Corner - If you want giant-killing, read the Bible

By: Craig | January 5th, 2007

Try as one might, it’s just not that easy to get all sweaty with excitement over what is usually a cracking weekend of football. Last month’s draw failed disastrously in producing any real stand-out ties or a string of David v Goliath mis-matches. Indeed, half of the ties see square-ups between sides from the same division. The fact that both televised matches are all-SPL clashes kind of says it all (shamefully, Aberdeen v Hibs has been shifted to next Wednesday to accommodate the cameras).

Still, on Saturday at 3pm at least, 32 teams can still win the Cup and there’s no question that headline-grabbing potential remains. Two SPL sides face the kind of voyages even Christopher Columbus would be a wee bit nervous about. Inverness travel to Stirling, where Albion reign supreme, having taken 10 victories from their last 12 games. It’s put them miles clear of the pack in the Second Division, albeit in the increasingly meaningless position of 2nd (the teams in 3rd and 4th get a place in the playoffs along with the runners-up - more on that in May).

Normally the problem with a trip to Greenock is leaving unscathed. Kilmarnock’s problem is that they will arrive with nine first-teamers carrying injuries. And their opponents are putting even Stirling in the shade. Enraged by last year’s play-off disappointment (they had the albatross of 2nd place very much around their neck) Morton are determined not to waste any time and have lost just twice since July. They’re unbeaten at Cappielow too.

Elsewhere, Deveronvale can cause an upset per se with a home victory over fellow-Highlanders Elgin City, though so could my granny these days. And Dunfermline could hammer the final nail in Rangers’ domestic coffin by beating their visitors from the West.

Furthermore, in the weekend’s true meeting of masters with minnows, Dumbarton could steal headlines from even Rangers by vanquishing the Hoops. Hmm, somehow methinks the back pages will stay the same as usual: blue, white and red all over.