Scottish Cup draw hands Bathgate Bo’ness incentive

Feb 4 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

SCOTLAND national team boss Craig Levein pulled Bathgate Thistle’s name out of the hat first.

The Jags, who have still to play Glenrothes in their much postponed fourth round clash, watched on from the edge of their seats as Levein plunged his hand back into the draw.

The next name he pulled out drew a gasp as he paired the West Lothian side with Superleague leaders Bo’ness United in what is undoubtedly the pick of the fifth round draw.

So Bathgate or Glenrothes will have home advantage against runaway league leaders Bo’ness in the fifth round of the Emirates Scottish Cup in what promises to be a cup cracker.

However, Jags boss Graeme Love, who was part of their Scottish Cup winning side of 2008, insists he is focusing purely on beating Glenrothes before allowing his mind to wander to a super clash with the Falkirk side.

“Glenrothes are a Super league side and we know them well and it is never an easy game against them,” insisted Love.

“They will be looking at the next round the same as us with Bo’ness being a big attraction in the cup.

“They are playing some terrific football in the Superleague but we’re starting to string together a good run ourselves.

“However I’m telling the squad to concentrate on beating Glenrothes first and we’ll think about anything else afterwards.

“In recent seasons we’ve had a good record in the Scottish and the lads would like to go there again.”

Bathgate and Glenrothes are scheduled to meet, weather permitting, at Creamery Park on Saturday.

The West Lothian side are five points ahead of their opponents in the Superleague but the Jags boast an unenviable home record this season as they are without a home league win all season.

Glenrothes too have had their troubles and have only picked up five points from their eight fixtures but in the cup the form book traditionally goes out the window.

Also in the draw for the Scottish Cup fifth round were West Lothian’s Linlithgow Rose.

They have been handed an away tie against the victors of the Whittletts and Forfar West End clash.

Rose will have no fears over facing either side especially after hammering Cumnock 4-0 last weekend in thier own fourth round fixture.

Boss Dave Baikie has a host of regulars available again after long-term injury and he has real competition for places now.

Baikie admitted he was happy with the draw but confessed he doesn’t know a lot about one of the clubs.

He said: “Forfar are going great guns just now in the Premier League and look like they could win back promotion to the Superleague.

“Should they win then it will be a battle to make the next round as they have experience in their squad but our players took a lot out of beating Cumnock and hopefully we can carry this forward to the next round.

“We don’t know a lot about Whittlets but if they manage to beat Forfar then they must be good.

“Either way it’s going to be a tough game for us.”