Killie without Clancy

Posted Tuesday, September 22, 2009 by PA

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies has a couple of injury problems ahead of their Co-operative Insurance Cup tie against St Mirren.

Tim Clancy has been ruled out of the third-round clash with an elbow problem which forced him out of the goalless draw against Rangers at the weekend.

Simon Ford is struggling with knee injury, making him a doubt for the visit of the Paisley side.

Jeffries believes the clash is an important game, having designs on a long cup run and believes his side go into the game into form.

He said: "When I look at the season so far, we have played well in all the games apart from the Motherwell game.

"There was a lot made of Rangers playing midweek but we also had a game at Tynecastle on the Tuesday night.

"In the last game against St Mirren, we should have had three points so we should be sitting with at least three more points this season.

"This is another huge match for us because we want to have a good cup run.

"We're at home and we have to take advantage of that."

St Mirren will still be without Mo Camara and Steven Robb for their Co-operative Insurance Cup third-round tie against Kilmarnock.

The pair missed Saturday's defeat at Aberdeen through injury and remain on the sidelines for the visit to Rugby Park.

Goalkeeper Chris Smith is also still out of action but edging closer to a comeback following cruciate ligament surgery.

Saints returned from their game at Pittodrie at the weekend empty-handed following a controversial free-kick decision by referee Craig Thomson, which led to Aberdeen's winner, before Lee Mair was sent-off.

Steve Conroy also hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons for two harsh red cards for Pedro Mendes and Manuel Pascali, and numerous other bookings, as Kilmarnock and Rangers battled out a goalless draw.

But MacPherson insists both camps will be more interested in the performances of their own players on Tuesday night, rather than the display of match official Dougie McDonald.

He said: "There has been plenty of talk over the weekend about referees but Jim Jefferies will be saying the same thing to his players as me - just focus on the game and concentrate on your own performance.

"It has all the makings of a good cup tie."