Clyde v Cowdenbeath
Clyde v Cowdenbeath
Barry Ferguson, the Clyde manager, (pictured) has called on his players to step up another gear after last week's fine win over Ayr United. The former Rangers captain knows it will be an even harder task against a visiting side who are another division above and are also looking to bite back from last week's loss to Brechin City. Iain Gray remains a long-term injury absentee for the home side. Lewis Milne is available for the visitors after suspension while new signing Danijel Jurisic, a Slovenian striker, will feature. International clearance for the 25-year-old was received yesterday and the 6ft 2in forward will start on the bench. "Clyde are a good attacking side, we will need to cut out the mistakes and be on top of our game for this cup tie," said Jimmy
Nicholl, the Cowdenbeath manager.
Prediction Home win
Airdrie United v Stenhousemuir
Both of these teams will be on a mission to bounce back from surprise defeats in the Petrofac Training Cup a week ago, the hosts losing on penalties to derby rivals Albion Rovers while the visitors were surprise victims of Brora Rangers. With these two sides also meeting at Ochilview in the league next week, a win would provide a psychological boost. The hosts have doubts over Andy McNeil and Liam Coogans. Scott Booth, the Stenhousemuir manager, is contemplating changes and was given food for thought when a second XI beat Stirling Albion 6-0 in midweek.
Prediction Home win
Albion Rovers v Livingston
Rovers would love to build on their win at Airdrie but Darren Young's side face a significant step up in class against a Livingston side who showed their mettle with an excellent extra-time victory against Queen of the South last weekend. Experienced midfielder Scott Chaplin is missing for the hosts while Livingston's Jason Talbot is suspended and Keaghan Jacobs is not yet ready to return following a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury.
Prediction Away win
Brechin City v Dumbarton
Buoyant Brechin have already claimed an SPFL Championship scalp in last week's win at Cowdenbeath so this is perhaps not the tie Dumbarton would have wanted as they attempt to recover from last week's unexpected defeat at Stranraer. Ray McKinnon, the City manager, selects from a full squad but Jamie Ewings and Mark McLaughlin remain on the injured list for Dumbarton.
Prediction Away win
Hamilton Academical v Arbroath
The hosts complete their preparations for life in the Premiership with what should be a comfortable enough assignment in their first competitive outing of the season. Alex Neil, the player manager, has brought in four new faces but it has been old favourites Mickael Antoine-Curier and Jason Scotland who have been knocking in the goals in pre-season. That may be bad news for Allan Moore, the Arbroath manager, who is still trying to shape his side after his summer appointment to the Gayfield hotseat. Jon Routledge and Tony Andreu miss out for the hosts while Arbroath are without defender Craig Johnstone who is suspended.
Prediction Home win
Morton v Berwick Rangers
These two will be getting used to each other over the next couple of weeks, having also been drawn together in the second round of the Petrofac Training Cup. Both would naturally love to progress in a second cup competition and Morton, with home advantage, start favourites. They are, though, without strikers Andy Barrowman and Stef McCluskey, both injured, but the latter's brother Jamie could make his debut and Sean Crighton is available after suspension. Former Hibs midfielder Dean Horribine, who featured as a trialist in Berwick's win against Queen's Park last Friday, has now signed and may start.
Prediction Home win
Dundee v Peterhead
An impressive pre-season means Premiership new boys Dundee are raring to get started in competitive action and it will be a vastly different side that takes the field than the one which clinched promotion last May.
Since then, the Dundee manager Paul Hartley has added no fewer than 12 new faces but one of them, James McPake, misses out through suspension. Hartley expects a stiff examination from a Peterhead side who also celebrated promotion albeit from League Two. The visitors kicked their season off with an impressive 3-0 win over Montrose and Jim McInally may go with an unchanged team.
Prediction Home win
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