A shock cup upset when Jody Morris was a Chelsea player gave the midfielder one of the worst memories of his career, and the St Johnstone skipper is determined he won’t be reminded of the feeling at McDiarmid Park.
If a star-studded Chelsea side that he was part of could crash out of the UEFA Cup to Swiss minnows St Gallen, there’s no danger of Morris underestimating Partick Thistle in their fifth round tie.
He said, “I had a few early cup exits at Chelsea but that one sticks in the memory. They were part-timers and we had World Cup winners in our team, including players like Marcel Desailly and Didier Deschamps, and others like Gianfranco Zola.
“It was a real embarrassment. It just shows you can take nothing for granted in any cup competition.”Winner
Morris has an FA Cup winner’s medal in his collection back in London and he’d love to have a Scottish Cup memento to accompany it before he heads for home.
Saints have been giant killers themselves on several occasions in his time in Perth, so he knows how tough a match Partick will make it on Saturday.
He said, “Thistle will see their chance to come here as underdogs and pull off a shock. They have nothing to lose. So our approach has to be as professional as ever. We know it will be a difficult game and we have to establish ourselves early on and make sure our ability shines through.
“I have always been one to see the beauty of cup competition, even if I have been on the wrong end of a few upsets in my career. I know exactly what it feels like and it’s not pleasant.Complacency
“Complacency is the biggest danger. That’s why there are cup upsets all over the world. There have been a few already in Scotland this season. But we have a manager here who will make sure we are prepared right for the game. If we do that I’d like to think we can impose ourselves on Thistle and go on and win the tie. But we know it won’t be easy.
“Our attitude has to be exactly the same as it was for the Hearts game in the previous round. As a club management and players alike we are proud of our cup runs in recent years and there has been many a time that the gaffer has referred to big cup wins in his pre-match talks. He recalls particular big games where we have laid it on the line and not left anything out there.”Hard work
Morris noted that while medals are handed out in the Hampden Park sun, the hard work has to be put in at this time of year.
He said, “You get the plaudits on final day but I have always believed everyone who played along the way deserves credit. I missed out on a few finals myself after playing in previous rounds. I scored a late goal in extra-time against Southampton to take Chelsea into the Coca-Cola Cup final but with just three subs allowed I missed out in the final.
“It shows cup runs are all about a squad. Cups are won on muddy pitches with snow or rain teeming down in the early rounds as much as 90 minutes in the final. You have to handle different types of games and conditions.”
Morris has been delighted with the impact made by striker Stevie May in the two games he has started. The midfielder made his Chelsea debut at 17 and observed, “Stevie doesn’t have to change his game.
“His age doesn’t matter. He has been a breath of fresh air. The gaffer deserves credit for making sure Stevie hit the ground running when he was given his chance.”Right moment
Boss Derek McInnes said, “It was about putting him in against the right opposition and at the right moment. It was always my intention to bring him in for a home game and it might have happened earlier if we hadn’t had such a long run of away games.
“It’s not just his own performances I’ve been delighted with the other strikers are responding to him. Sammy (Collin Samuel) has had two of his best games playing with Stevie.”
Liam Craig is a doubt after straining his calf in midweek, while Arvydas Novikovas is cup-tied. Danny Grainger returns from suspension.