Lee Robinson is ready to wreck Rangers’ Ramsdens Cup hopes for the second year running despite training with the Light Blues for the past month.
The former Ibrox keeper helped Queen of the South dump Gers out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage last season by starring in a penalty shoot-out and he will now take on Rangers in this year’s final, having signed a short-term deal with Raith Rovers last month.
The 27-year-old certainly has the inside track on his opponents because he has been keeping himself in trim with the Rangers boys up until this week that is.
He said: “I had been training at Murray Park recently. The training ground is near my house so it was really good of Rangers to let me train with them but I felt I should stop as the final came closer.
“It was great to see some familiar faces and I was pleased to see my old Queens team mate Nicky Clark. It will be good to come up against Nicky in the final. He’s done well to get his move to Rangers.
“I want to have a good week with Raith now and then we will see what happens on Sunday.”
The Sunderland-born keeper can’t quite believe he’s playing in the final for the second year running, especially against his former club in a sell-out at Easter Road.
He was wondering what the future might hold when he was snapped up by Grant Murray after spending a short spell in Sweden with Ostersunds SK last year.
He said: “It’s amazing that a year later I’m playing in the final again. I feel a bit bad because I haven’t played in any of the other rounds.
“Last year was brilliant for me and it would be nice to win it this year. We were underdogs last year because Partick had a really good side and were doing well in the league.
“It’s the same this year but we will give it a good go.”
Robinson is a bit of a spot-kick expert. Dean Shiels missed and Anestis Argyriou hit the post as Queens knocked Rangers out in the quarters last season after a 2-2 draw and then in the final he came into his own.
He saved Aaron Muirhead’s penalty in extra-time and in the shoot-out withThistle he saved two and scored one as the Palmerston side lifted the silverware.
He said: “I fancy myself at penalties and the final could not have worked out any better for me. I saved one during the game, saved two in the shoot-out and scored one.”
Robinson came through the youth ranks at Rangers and was highly rated by the staff. He had loan spells at Morton, St Johnstone and Queen of the South but left in 2009.
He admits that he was to blame for not making the grade and putting more pressure on Allan McGregor and Neil Alexander.
He said: “It was my own fault that I didn’t make it with Rangers. When I got an opportunity. I didn’t make the most of it.
“It wasn’t really about who was in front of me. I think you mature and you learn.”
Robinson does feel for regular Rovers No 1 David McGurn, who suffered an achilles injury against Morton last October that wrecked his season.
He said: “I have known David for years and it’s bad that he’s got his injury. I would feel for him if I didn’t know him but the fact that I have known him for a long time brings it home more.”
Of Sunday, he added: “Now it’s all about relaxing and concentrating on the final. We have a lot of experience in the team and I’m sure all the lads will be up for it.”