Largs Thistle face all Premier cup cracker at Barrfields

It is a 1.30pm kick-off at Barrfields Park on Saturday, with penalties after 90 minutes if both teams finish level.

Thistle boss Stuart Davidson has praised his players for their last gasp victory against Troon - and followed that up with an impressive win away at league leaders Darvel on Wednesday evening.

He said: "While it is great that we beat Darvel, and I was delighted with the performance, we need to keep working hard and bringing our 'A' game to each match - and I am expecting an extremely difficult match with Hurlford.

"Hurlford have a really good and strong physical squad and they have good players who can hurt you - we really need to roll up our sleeves and push on as we want to go as far as we can in the cups.

"The other thing is that we have a couple of injuries and suspensions are about to kick in so we are going to have to really dig in.

"Against Darvel the other night, you looked at the team they have, and the bench, and you think 'Wow' - we have not got that and we need to just take it as it comes and keep giving everything in every game."

Both Largs and Hurlford drew in a pre-season encounter at Barrfields in July with midfielder Stuart Faulds scoring a spectacular effort - see below clip.

It is a pivotal few weeks for Largs in terms of cup action as they face Clydebank away in the South of Scotland Cup on November 19 - and with Thistle's Scottish Cup participation ending with a shock first round defeat at Craigmark, Davidson's side have two trickly all Premier ties to negotiate in the remaining cup competitions open to them.

Thistle boss Stuart Davidson (Image: Newsquest)

Defender Cory Hughes should be due to return after his shoulder injury, but midfielder David McGrath has been for another scan is awaiting results after his heel injury earlier in the season against Cumnock.
Davidson said: "Striker Scott Adam has had his operation and seen his consultant after it and everything is all good. It is just a matter of time to build up and the recovery. We need to be careful as well that Scott doesn't come back too soon but we are looking at the start of 2023 which will be great as he has been such an influential player for this club over the years."
Largs also had the benefit of a run-out last Monday against Johnstone Burgh at Inverclyde Sports Centre which they won 5-0 with goals coming from Ryan McCreath x 2, Scott Lewis, George Sewell and David Ramsay.
* Largs Thistle Amateurs drew 6-6 with Kirkintilloch Thistle in the third round of the Scottish Cup with goals scored by Glen McTaggart x 3, Lee Farrelly, Craig Marshall, and Fraser Russell. West Kilbride AFC also secured a 1-1 draw at home to Pittenweem Rovers in the cup.