City travel to Central Park this afternoon to take on Cowdenbeath in the 3rd round of the Tennent’s Scottish Cup. The two sides played each other just 7 days ago, with City emerging victorious in a comfortable 4-2 victory played in poor conditions.

City are currently Cowden’s bogey team, with the reds beating the ‘Blue Brazil’ on the two occasions they have met this season. City came out on top in the clash down at Central Park back in August, winning 3-1 while the victory last week pushed City further ahead of the Fifers in the league table.

Both outfits are scoring for fun at the moment. City have scored 10 goals in their last 3 matches while Cowdenbeath have banged in 17 in their last 4 home games, so they will be banking on their home form to get them through to the last 16 of the cup for the first time in 14 years.

To get this far City have defeated 3rd division side Queens Park after a 1st round replay while they took care of East of Scotland outfit Preston Athletic in the last round. Cowdenbeath faced the trip from hell in the first round when they travelled to Stranraer, and they were 1-0 winners at Stair Park while they hammered Edinburgh University 5-1 in the 2nd round.

Despite dominating for large spells in the local derby on Tuesday, City had to settle for a share of the points after conceding a last minute equaliser. City manager Michael O’Neill said: “That was a sore two points to lose as we should have won comfortably. There was quite a bit of reaction from the players in the dressing room afterwards.

“However, it could play to our advantage. The lads want to make amends and as far as they are concerned the cup tie can’t come quick enough. It will be a difficult tie, no doubt about that. We have beaten Cowdenbeath in both of our league meetings but a cup game is quite different, everybody knows that. There’s a big prize at the end of this and we will have to be at our very best tomorrow.”

Cowden boss Brian Welsh said: “This is a massive game with a big prize at the end of it. We felt we deserved a point at Brechin last week and we certainly have nothing to fear, especially as our home form has been so good.

“We know this is going to be a difficult game but the players are confident and it has been clear this season that there is little to choose between the teams in the second division.”

Michael O’Neill has no fresh worries ahead of the match. Long term absentee Grant Johnson and Scott Walker are still sidelined while John Ward, who has missed the last few matches, will undergo a late fitness test to determine whether he can take on his former club.

Cowdenbeath are still without first team goalkeeper David Orr so former City keeper David Hay will remain between the sticks. Full back Graham Guy is also out through injury and there is also a doubt over experienced midfielder Danny Lennon who picked up a calf problem in the match against Raith on Tuesday.