Take Whitletts seriously, Dave Baikie warns Linlithgow

LINLITHGOW Rose boss Dave Baikie will warn his players not to take anything for granted when they face Whitletts Victoria in their Emirates Scottish Junior Cup fifth-round replay at Prestonfield tomorrow.

While some Linlithgow fans might be expecting a bit of a stroll for their side after bringing the Ayrshire outfit back to West Lothian after a 1-1 draw last weekend, Baikie believes that won't be the case.

"I was looking at Whitletts' results the other day and they are undefeated since September 12," warned the Lithgae manager. "What's more, their away form has been better than their home form, so they are certainly capable of causing an upset."

Due to the fact his hearing hasn't been held yet, John Adam can play in the replay despite his first-half sending off last weekend.

That's a bonus for Baikie at a time when he's not got too many options in the middle of the park, but the former East Fife manager has worries elsewhere.

"Gordon Herd and Tommy Coyne are both doubts," he added. "Gordon's ankle had swollen up when he came to training on Monday night while Tommy came off in the second half with a calf injury in the first game.

"We'll need to wait and see how they are but at least we've got John Adam available – we're a bit thin on the ground at the moment when it comes to midfielders." While determined to join Bathgate in the next round, Baikie says it would be a bonus if Linlithgow went all the way in this season's competition.

"It is a work in progress here," he said. "I never thought I could come to the club and give them instant success and even the committee know it will be a bonus if we end up doing well this season.

"We are getting there and I definitely think we are getting a better balance in the team now.

"It's a case of trying to blend youth and experience and there's no doubt that every successful team these days needs what I'd call legs in it.

"The likes of Roddy McLennan, for example. He's got bags of ability and, when he runs with the ball at his feet, he can be almost unstoppable at times.

"However, with young players like that, you are always going to get dips in form, so we need to be patient as we try to bring them on."

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Cup takes place on the Ewan Cameron/Alan Rough show on Real Radio tonight between 6pm and 8pm with Bathgate already through and Rose waiting to find out who they could face if they can defeat Whitletts.