Scottish Cup: Ambitious Linlithgow Rose target Queen’s Park scalp

“It’s not one that I’m fearing.”

The view of Linlithgow Rose manager Gordon Herd as his Lowland League high-flyers prepare to take on Championship side Queen’s Park in front of the BBC Scotland cameras on Friday as the Scottish Cup third round gets under way.

Shocks still happen in the Scottish Cup, as Queen’s Park themselves proved last season as they dumped Rangers out at Ibrox.

A point not lost on Herd.

“Why no us?” he says. “Up until six or seven seasons ago Queen’s Park were languishing down in the lower leagues until they got that money pumped into them, obviously the money has been pulled away a wee bit now.

“It’s a free hit. We know it is going to be a huge task. It is a home tie, Prestonfield is a tight park as well so we can hopefully make it an uncomfortable night for Queen’s Park.

“We will treat Queen’s Park with respect, but we’re no going to sit in. That’s not how we do it. This one I feel we have got a big chance.”

It might just be a stop on a train for some of us, but what is the West Lothian town of Linlithgow up until this point famous for? The palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.

The town’s patron saint is the Archangel Michael, essentially God’s bruiser for those of a non-clerical disposition. The Linlithgow town motto is ‘St Michael is kinde to straingers’.

You get a very real sense Herd and company won’t be extending that ‘kindeness’ to Queen’s Park’s pilgrims.

“They are a young side,” says Herd of their opponents.

“Obviously their massive favourites, probably first time this season they have been favourites.”

“We are just hoping to make it a really uncomfortable night for them and see where it takes us.”

“Put them under a wee bit of pressure and see what happens. I have been there myself with a young side, they can behave differently with an occasion like this.”