Bathgate and Linlithgow Rose to meet on Scottish Cup day

Mar 11 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

DAVE BAIKIE has insisted his Linlithgow Rose side are the underdogs going into the weekend’s all-West Lothian Emirates Scottish Cup quarter-final clash.

Linlithgow will make the short eight-mile journey to county neighbours Bathgate Thistle with a place in the final four of junior football’s biggest prize up for grabs.

But Baikie reckons the Jags are favourites given recent results and home advantage.

“I think we are going into the match as underdogs to be perfectly honest,” admitted Baikie.

“They beat us at our place earlier this season and they’ll have home advantage this time which can make a difference.

“They have won their last six games on the bounce and beat league leaders Bo’ness as well in the last round.

“All in all naming them as favourites for the match isn’t far off the mark.

“We are playing alright ourselves and I expect the match to be very close.

“It’s all building up to be a very exciting game.”

Linlithgow are undefeated themselves this year but because of the wild wintry weather they have only played four competitive matches.

Both Rose and Bathgate have lifted the junior game’s most prestigious honour in recent years and this is a match which could go either way.

Rose booked their quarter-final place in emphatic style with a five-goal thrashing of Whittlets Vics on Saturday.

Bathgate were already there having beaten Superleague leaders Bo’ness last month.

The Jags already have a win over Rose to their name this season after their 2-1 Superleague win at Prestonfield but boss Graeme Love insists that will count for nothing on Saturday.

“Saturday should be fun and games anyway,” laughed Love, “it will be a very tough game and with the added spice of it being a local rivalry it will be a huge fixture for both clubs.

“Both of us have had a bit of success in the competition which is the Holy Grail of junior football and this will be massive.

“Any Scottish Cup quarter-final would be massive anyway but with the added aspect of it being against a side who are local rivals it makes it an even bigger occasion.

“We certainly won’t be taking this game lightly but if we can play to our strengths then hopefully that will be enough.

“We did beat them in the league earlier this season but that will have no bearing whatsoever on Saturdays match. Rose have brought in a few new players since then and we know we’re in for a tough game.

“We will do a bit of work on Rose this week but we will be more concentrating on what we can do.”

Definitely out for Bathgate are Paul Riley and Stephen Menmuir but those two apart, Love has a full squad to choose from to send into Scottish Cup battle.

Rose are at full-strength and they are able to welcome back Scott Wilson from suspension and Gary Kelly from long-term injury.

Whoever wins the Creamery Park cup cracker the bonus is there will definitely be a West Lothian club in the Emirates Junior Scottish Cup semi-final this season.