Queen's Park & Partick Thistle put 100 per cent records on the line in Ramsdens Cup derby

Aug 14 2012 By Fraser Wilson

HAMPDEN plays host to Glasgow's first derby of the season tonight when Queen's Park welcome Partick Thistle in the second round of the Ramsdens Cup.

Both sides will put their 100 per cent winning starts to the season on the line at the national stadium with a place in the quarter finals up for grabs.

Thistle boss McNamara has seen his side win all three of their matches so far - with Saturday's 3-1 home victory over Falkirk exactly the type of start he was hoping for to the first division campaign.

And Queen's have had every bit as promising a start - defeating Berwick Rangers and Airdrie United in the cups before starting their third division campaign with a solid 2-0 win at East Stirling on Saturday.

McNamara admits he will rest a few of his regulars tonight - but challenged the fringe players to make the most of their opportunity.

He said: "This game gives me the chance to try a few things and rest a few of the lads with one eye on Saturday.

“But we have a decent sized squad just now and any team I put out should be capable of winning. It gives the players a chance to impress me too.

“The Ramsdens Cup might not be the most glamorous of competitions but we want to win it.

“The chance to play at Hampden doesn't come around often so they should enjoy it and express themselves.”

Queen's boss Gardner Speirs is hoping his players can pull off another shock after dumping Airdrie United in the first round of the League Cup a fortnight ago.

But the former Thistle assistant knows only too well the size of the task in hand.

He said: "Of course they’ll be favourites. They're a very good first division side but we’ll look forward to it."