A glamour game in Glasgow may well await the winners of tonight’s Scottish Cup fourth round replay, but Dunfermline boss Jim Jefferies has urged his players to overlook Ayr United at their peril.
The Pars’ 1-1 draw with the Honest Men at Somerset Park on Saturday earned them a second crack at progression at East End Park this evening, and Jefferies’ men will therefore be favourites to book a spot in the last 16.
But the Pars manager has been in the game too long to know that a February date against Rangers in the fifth round is a formality.
“When the draw is made you look for one of two things,” he said.
“You either want a home tie and a favourable draw that gives you a chance to progress or, if you get a difficult tie, you want it to earn the money that would be the equivalent of a good cup run.
“What this draw does is give both Ayr United and Dunfermline the chance to earn a few quid.”
Jefferies said: “We know how strong Rangers are from playing them recently but the chance to play one half of the Old Firm is a huge incentive financially.”
“There is an even bigger prize now for getting through, but that prize has to be earned.
“People would say that the advantage has swung to us now but we know every game is tough for us with the inexperience that we have.
“But we are at home and we will have a good big support behind us, and if we go and play the way that we can play we can make it tough for Ayr.”
The Pars go into the game knowing that they demolished Ayr 5-1 when the teams last met in Fife in September, when a brace from Ryan Wallace either side of goals from Alex Whittle, Andy Geggan and Josh Falkingham capped a superb all-round performance from the hosts.
However, they only need to look at Saturday’s tie at Somerset to know how tough this evening’s game could well be.
“I said before Saturday’s game that it was going to be tight and there would be not a lot in it,” Jefferies added.
“We started really well and for 25 minutes we had them on the back foot having played great football.
“We scored a good goal but then I thought we got a little casual and sloppy and let them back in it, so we know it’s going to be a difficult tie for us.”