Duffy: Rangers tie is terrific for the Ton
Delighted manager Jim Duffy reckons an exciting William Hill Scottish Cup fifth round tie against Rangers at Ibrox is terrific for the club.
We were paired with the Glasgow giants in last night’s draw, conducted by pop star Sir Rod Stewart and former Hibs boss Alan Stubbs, with the round of 16 clash to be played on the weekend of 11/12 February.
Despite considering it one of the toughest ties they could have faced, Ton boss Duffy insisted he was pleased to see his side pulled out of the hat opposite the side currently sat second in the Scottish Premiership.
Speaking exclusively to gmfc.net, he said: “It’s a terrific draw for the club, there’s no doubt about that. It’s one of the hardest draws we could have possibly got in a football sense, but nevertheless, it’s an exciting draw.
“That’s what we say to the players time and time again, that if you win you never know how the draw will go, and in terms of the profile it’s a fantastic occasion for the players to look forward to and terrific for the supporters to look forward to.
“For me as a manager, it’s one of those ones that gives us a lot to think about when the game arrives, but at this moment, we have a few weeks and too many games to play before that.
“We have to try and make sure we maintain our form leading up to it, if we can. We can’t guarantee it, but going into those type of matches in good form is something we’d like to be the case.”
For a brief moment, the Ton looked to be heading to Parkhead to play Celtic before it was quickly noticed that it was in fact Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s number and they were then pulled out opposite Mark Warburton’s men.
And Duffy laughed: “It was similar to the last time when they pulled out Celtic against Dundee United and had to do it again and the next time it was ourselves who got Celtic.
“This time they pulled it out and got the nine and six mixed up, and it was kind of strange – but either way it was going to be Celtic or Rangers away and really tough.
“It’s one of those rarities. Who got Celtic and Rangers away from home in the same cup draw – that will be a pub quiz in a few years’ time!”
Image: David Bell
