The Farmer’s Boys were knocked out by Shotts in the same competition last year 1-0, losing to a penalty call which Whiteford thought was dubious.

He said: “We’re not going up there for revenge. It’s a hard game against a team in the league above who are going ok, so we know it’ll be hard but we’ll prepare well and go and try to win the game.

“We went up there in a cup competition a couple of seasons ago and beat them 2-0. We put in a good professional performance and come back with the result. Last season we narrowly lost to a debatable penalty” The next two weeks sees Neilston in cup action and that made their performance in the 1-0 home defeat to Shettleston all the more disappointing for Whiteford.

He said: “We knew we had a break coming up so Saturday was a big game for us, maybe it would be good to have a league game next to get back into it but that’s the way the fixtures have fallen.

“It gives us a break from thinking about the league and a chance to get back to winning ways in the cups.

“On Saturday both teams weren’t at their best. Shettleston were missing some players and they seemed happy to play for a point.

“We didn’t do enough to win, our first shot on goal was near the end, we had problems creating chances.” Despite his side’s shortcomings Whiteford was disappointed with a refereeing decision which may have ultimately cost his team two points.

He said:”We were very unfortunate, their centre forward controlled the ball with his hand on the half way line, the three officials never spotted it, the play went on and they scored.

“A point would’ve been a fair result.”