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John McGlashan is set to miss Ross County's Tennent's Scottish Cup third-round clash with Clydebank at Boghead tomorrow.
The County midfielder was sent off in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Dumbarton for a challenge on Davie Stewart and referee Kevin Toner viewed the incident as violent conduct, which results in an instant one-match ban.
County manager Neale Cooper said: "I have not officially had a letter yet but I have been told he will miss the game. It was a late challenge but I think it looked far worse than it really was and it was only his first tackle. However, that is football and we will have to live with it."
County will make the trip back to Boghead for the second time in five days to play on a ground which Cooper branded a nightmare. However, the Dingwall men must fancy their chances of beating the First Division club after already claiming three scalps from higher opposition in cup games this season.
Cooper said: "I hope the pitch is a lot better. We had to battle hard against Dumbarton with only 10 men and we will have to battle against Clydebank. They are a very difficult side.
"I don't think the tie is in anyone's favour. The pitch will make the game a lottery. We like to play football on the deck but it will be difficult to do so. We also don't know how the floodlights will be. Anything can happen in this game and we have got to be well prepared."
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Ross County boss Neale Cooper still believes his men have every chance of reaching the fourth round of the Scottish Cup when they face Clydebank again in next week's third round replay.
The sides are provisionally scheduled to meet in Dingwall next Monday (February 8) after a late deflected free kick handed the First Division side a draw at Boghead.
Neale Cooper said: "Clydebank have been a good side away from home this season and our park is lovely to play on just now - at least it's got grass. I'm hopeful, though, and I am sure it will be another excellent game.
"Every one of my players was a star for me tonight. They worked their socks off, were very disciplined and unlucky not to get the win.
"It was a nothing free kick which took a deflection on the way in, but that's football and we just have to get on with it."
Cooper said that the result was one in the eye for ex-Rangers teammate Ian McCall - now Bankies boss - who stated beforehand his men should comfortably beat the lower league opposition.
Cooper added, "Their manager was quoted on radio as saying we're a Third Division side and they should be well on top. That got us really fired up and, if anything, they were the ones firing high balls over the top."
Bankies boss McCall was clearly upset with his side's lucky escape and admitted that the Dingwall side had been robbed of a shock victory.
McCall said: "I am sure they feel very aggrieved not to be in the next round. I thought they dominated the game and were the better side.
"This club has not been getting the breaks though and we got it tonight with the goal. We're delighted to still be in the cup and will go up there next week and give it a go."
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County's Third Round replay in the Tennent's Scottish Cup will take place at Victoria Park next Monday (8 February). The pitch in Dingwall is in perfect condition with an excellent grass cover - unlike the mud bath at Boghead.
The first game last Tuesday was spoiled by a muddy playing field and now both sides will try again on one of the best playing surfaces in the country.
However, this might favour Clydebank as Neale Cooper believes that Clydebank would enjoy playing on a dry, firm surface.
He said, "I've seen Clydebank on a good surface and they play excellent stuff, so although we may have some advantage playing at home we will have to be on our guard.
He added, "Our surface will ceratinly make for a more entertaining game for what I hope will be a big crowd against the Bankies. I'd also like to thank our army of faithful supporters who made the long journey to Dumbarton for the first game, the lads really appreciated their efforts."
Cooper will put any thoughts of cup glory on the back burner until after County tackle Stenhousemuir in tomorrow's Third Division clash.
He said, "As I've said all along, the cup is an exciting diversion and financially rewarding, but our main priority remains the league campaign."
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Ross County's thoughts will be very much on the job in hand when they entertain Stenhousemuir in this afternoon's Third Division game at Victoria Park.
"The Scottish Cup tie against Clydebank on Monday night is furthest from our minds," said County boss Neale Cooper last night.
He went on: "The Stennie game is a very important one for us. They'll probably come to pack their defence and hope to hit us on the break, so if we're forcing the game we'll have to be on our guard."
Cooper confirmed that his side will play its normal game, although ground conditions could influence his selection.
"We'll play our usual attacking brand of football which seems to go down well with our fans," said Cooper.
He added: "We'll have a look at the park before making up our minds on our final line-up. At present the park is covered but the overnight forecast is not wonderful."
County's powerful midfielder John McGlashan comes back into contention after missing the midweek game at Boghead through suspension.
Winger Billy Ferries could also feature from the start having sat out the last two games on a Boghead surface that certainly didn't suit his style of play.
Stennie will be looking to build on their recent impressive cup performance against Rangers at Ibrox where they eventually went down 2-0.
New boss Graeme Armstrong takes his side to Dingwall looking for his first win since he took over the reins from Terry Christie a couple of weeks ago.
"We've only won one of our last 11 games so we are looking to repeat our 1-0 win on our last trip to Dingwall," said Armstrong. "There's no better place to pick up my first win as a manager than against the league's best side."
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Ross County's Tennent's Scottish Cup third-round replay against Clydebank may go ahead tomorrow (Wednesday 10 February).
The match was to have been played last night (Monday) but was postponed yesterday after a 10am Victoria Park pitch inspection revealed rutted areas after heavy overnight frost.
Grade 1 official Kevin Bisset will have another look at 9am tomorrow to see if the game can go ahead with a 7.30pm kick off.
If the tie is put off again it is likely County's away league game at Queen's Park on Saturday will take precedence.
Head of the SFA's disciplinary and referee department Drew Herbertson said: "The rules of the cup competition will be adhered to and, if the game at Dingwall is off this Wednesday, it will then be scheduled for Monday night and, thereafter, Wednesdays and Mondays until the tie is played."
County are aiming to beat Clydebank to set up a fourth-round tie against either Dundee United or Queen's Park, who replay at Tannadice tonight.
County general manager Alastair Kennedy said: "We intend to pull out all the stops to try and get the game on this Wednesday.
"The covers were put on straight after the final whistle on Saturday and some of the snow which was lying on top of the surface has turned to ice, especially in the goalmouth at one end.
"We hope to take off the inch and a half of snow on top of the covers on Tuesday morning, roll them back and do some remedial work to the surface before replacing the covers to protect against overnight frost."
If the game does fall to the weather tomorrow, County will again face the prospect of playing two important games within the space of two days while the Bankies, for the second week running, would have the luxury of a free Saturday.
County manager Neale Cooper admitted last night's postponement could be a blessing in disguise, saying: "It gives us a couple of more days for the lads to rest up after two punishing games in three days against Clydebank and Stenhousemuir."
Meanwhile, Cooper is in the dark over reports that Premier League clubs watched central defender Ian Maxwell last week. "We know Ian was watched by a few clubs earlier in the season but it's news to me that Celtic and Kilmarnock took in the Clydebank game," he said.
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Ross County's Tennent's Scottish Cup third-round tie against Clydebank is likely to go into cold storage again, although Inverness referee Kevin Bisset will carry out a 9am inspection this morning.
The Dingwall pitch is frozen under the covers and County boss Neale Cooper admits the game is very doubtful.
"I'm dying to get the game played, but it looks odds on that it will be called off once again."
In the event of a minor miracle and the game getting the green light, Cooper is confident his players will be in good fettle for the tie.
"The lads have had a rest after those punishing games at Boghead last Wednesday night and Stenhousemuir on Saturday.
"There was a lot of tired legs in the squad and I intend to freshen things up for the replay against Clydebank. John McGlashan, who came off the bench to score last Saturday, will definitely start the game and we'll see how the other lads are shaping up before coming to any decisions about possible changes."
Clydebank boss Ian McCall feels that his side will be better equipped for the replay.
"We had seven of our squad out in the first game at Boghead, but hopefully four of them will be back for the trip to Dingwall, whenever that takes place," he said.
If, as seems likely, tonight's cup tie is called off, it will go ahead on Monday (7.30pm) with County facing Queen's Park in a Division 3 game on Saturday.
McCall added: "If the game's off and has to be played next Monday night I don't really think the fact that County have to play a league fixture at Lesser Hampden while we are without a game will benefit us."
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Neale Cooper got a bargain two-for-the-price-of-one match report from a club spy as Dundee United set up a possible fourth round Tennent's Scottish Cup tie gainst Ross County.
County will get the opportunity to repeat their League Cup victory over Dundee United if they can beat Clydebank in the much-posponed Scottish Cup replay.
But with the replay postponed until Monday next (15 February), County manager Cooper will turn his attention to Queen's Park, the side United beat at Tannadice in their cup replay.
"The fact that we had someone there last night served two purposes, as we play Queen's in a league match at Lesser Hampden on Saturday," said Cooper.
Yesterday morning, it took local referee Kevin Bissett only a few minutes to call off County's game with Clydebank with frozen, snow-covered Victoria Park unplayable. However, with a thaw being forecast for the weekend, prospects look quite bright for Monday night.
John McGlashan will miss the trip to Glasgow on Saturday due to suspension and 'flu victims Roy McBain and Kenny Gilbert are doubtful.
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Ross County manager Neale Cooper believes his sides forced rest propr to today's Third Division match in Glasgow could prove to be a blessing in disguise.
The Dingwall side's Scottish Cup game against Clydebank was again the victim of the weather in mid-week, while today's opponents, Queen's Park, bravely battled with Dundee United last Tuesday.
Cooper hopes that today's visit to Glasgow will be made easier due to the tiredness that the part-time players at Queen's Park must be feeling.
He said, "We had them watched against Dundee United and they did well, but maybe they will have tired legs. We experienced that against Hearts earlier in the season and it's not just a physical thing but also a mental thing.
"We have also had a bit of a rest and trained in lovely conditions."
Meanwhile, Roy McBain looks like being fit for the game and Gary Wood will deputise forKenny Gilbert.
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Third Division leaders Ross County and Press and Journal Highland League strugglers Nairn County have denied the allegation that there will be a link between the two clubs.
County chairman Roy McGregor said, "Apart from anything else, the SFA rules would not allow me to become a shareholder of another club and in addition Ross County would not wish to affiliate with another club.
"We did have four young players on loan to Nairn for a couple of months, but we've also had others helping out at Brora Rangers."
Nairn secretary John McNeill poured cold water on the idea that his club was about to become a feeder for Ross County. "I can state quite categorically that Ross County will not be taking over Nairn County."
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Ross County manager Neale Cooper moved to strengthen his injury-ravaged squad, snapping up 24-year-old defender Craig Tully from Premier Division Dundee.
Tully, on loan to Second Division Forfar in recent weeks, joined County last night after the Dingwall club took over the balance of his Dens Park contract with no fee changing hands.
"I came across Craig when I watched Dundee reserves a few weeks ago to check out another player entirely and he caught my eye as a big, strong, quick, athletic defender who organised his teammates well," said Cooper.
"When I decided that we needed to strengthen our squad and began to think about a defender and a striker, he emerged as just the right sort of player to beef up the competition for defensive places."
Cooper confirmed Tully is in line for an immediate Victoria Park debut against East Stirling tomorrow after the Dingwall club was left reeling following Monday night's 3-2 extra time Tennent's Scottish Cup third round replay defeat by Clydebank.
Midfield man Frank Escalon, who limped off with a bady jarred ankle, has already been ruled out of tomorrow's game and Cooper insisted another six regulars, all unnamed, are struggling to be fit.
"We're going to need every ounce of squad strength we have to get a side on the park against East Stirling because a handful of the lads are really toiling," said Cooper yesterday.
"It was a bruising, physically intense cup tie, it went to extra time and it came just a couple of days after a tough league game - a situation which always takes a toll on players.
"We're still on the trail of a striker but that is unlikely to come together before the weekend."
Cooper also gave County's former Scotland keeper Nicky Walker, who was billed as the villain of Monday's tie after his extra time mistake sent the Bankies through to a home fourth round tie against Dundee United.
Cooper said: "Nicky held his hand up for the mistake after the game. He was a victim of the sort of rare mistake the best keepers in the world can and do make from time to time and what happened on Monday has not dented my confidence or the team's trust in him one bit.
"He'll be in his usual place against East Stirling on Saturday."
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Tonight's scheduled Third Division crunch match between Ross County and Brechin City at Victoria Park looks set to be called off yet again - for what would be the third time.
A pitch inspection is scheduled for this morning, but the Dingwall men are resigned to the fact the match is unlikely to go ahead with the pitch waterlogged. The match was originally scheduled for January 16.
Leaders County's aim is to put more daylight between themselves and the rest of the division. Victory would put them 12 points ahead of Brechin.
After such a great first half to the season, Brechin's recent record has been woeful with only one point from their last five games.
But other contenders also failed to capitalise as County drew three of their last four league games, although they are undefeated in 14.
However, County manager Neale Cooper has warned his players not to be complacent in the championship run-in.
Cooper said: "We have to be wary because earlier in the season we lost several games after we played Hearts in the League Cup so you never know what will happen.
"The boys know they cannot be complacent and a lot of them are playing for new contracts, so there is still some pressure on them.
"This is such a big game for us and Brechin will be fired up because they had a chance to catch up, but slipped up. We will have to knuckle down hard and go out to win the game. I don't think there will be a lot of goals in it."
On-loan goalkeeper Colin Meldrum - from Kilmarnock - replaces Nicky Walker in goal - Nicky is on holiday in the USA, while Kenny Gilbert, Frank Escalon and Gary Wood are out injured.
There are doubts over Ian Maxwell and Mark Haro, but new signing Craig Tully is added to the squad.
Brechin manager John Young said: "We are going through a patchy spell and there are no magic solutions. This is a good chance for the team to get a morale boost."
Jim McKellar returns for City while defender Greig Smith is rated doubtful.
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Ross County manager Neale Cooper is continuing to monitor Colin McKee, who is on trial at the Dingwall club for two weeks.
The former Manchester United and Kilmarnock forward was freed by Falkirk last October.
Cooper said: "We are looking at the situation and he is training away. He has not played for a while and we will fix up a game for him."
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