Bairns are playing it cool

Falkirk Stadium was under a blanket of snow, forcing the cancellation of training yesterday. Picture Michael Gillen.

Training was cancelled as weather chaos hit Scotland, but there’s no panic for the Bairns, as Paul Hartley explained.

He told The Falkirk Herald: “Our plan was to have Thursday off as a rest day, but it was the travelling that was the big issue [yesterday].

“We have had the groundsman working hard on the surface so now we’re planning for work Thursday, Friday, Saturday through to the game.

“We had a lot of good work early in the week and just reversed the rest days so the prep will still be the same.”

The disruption came after Rangers’ match with St Johnstone which Hartley watched in Perth on Tuesday night just before the worst snow hit.

He has more details now to try and create what he describes as “a cup upset”.

Hartley added: “We’ll look at the game in every detail and then it’s on the day how we perform. We’ll go to cause an upset - and that’s what it would be because everyone has written us off.

“Rangers were good in Perth, they’re a good team and playing well and have quality going forward. They look settled and haven’t made many changes in the last few games.

“But I’m pleased with how we’re playing, it will make a good quality cup tie.

“With a big crowd there it’ll be good for our players to pit their wits against a good team. Some of them are out their comfort zones and won’t have experienced an atmosphere like it before – but knowing them, I think they’ll enjoy it.

“We have to go and be positive, and pick the team on Sunday to win the game, there’s no point otherwise. Our fans  expect us to put on a good  performance and so do I.”

Tickets for Sunday’s game  remain on sale online and at Falkirk Stadium until Friday.