Killie boss warns his players
09 Feb 2010 - 17:02:38
Killie secured their first win under Calderwood when Manuel Pascali inadvertently diverted home the only goal at Rugby Park last month.
Falkirk, who missed several good chances, will have captain Darren Barr, who was suspended for the cup tie, and recent signings Enoch Showunmi and Colin Healy to boost their team from that night.
And they also had the benefit of a free weekend while Killie continued their cup run with a 3-0 win over Inverness.
"I thought we were very fortunate in the cup tie against them," Calderwood said.
"They played very well and it looked like it was going to be a draw all the way until we got that late goal, then our keeper saved us in the 93rd minute. That's football.
"Falkirk missed a few big players that night, Darren Barr never played. I'm sure they will be back tomorrow night, which doesn't make it any easier."
Killie pulled off one of the shock results of the season last week when they beat Celtic 1-0 on Robbie Keane's debut, but Falkirk also took an unlikely scalp with victory at Pittodrie.
"It was a great result, they have not won there for more than 50 years," the former Aberdeen manager said.
"The reports I'm getting from up in Aberdeen say they were very, very impressive.
"Apparently it could have been more and that says enough because it's not the easiest of venues. We know how difficult this game is going to be."
Calderwood, who had Falkirk boss Eddie May in his ranks at Dunfermline, added: "He always did great for me. He's a very genuine lad and hungry.
"It wasn't easy coming into that job, it was always going to be a hard act to follow after big John (Hughes) and Brian Rice.
"But it was a great move getting Alex Smith in and big Steven (Pressley) is there too.
"Keeping Jackie (McNamara) as well was a good move. So they have a lot of experience there, big Lee Bullen, another old player of mine."
The victory over Inverness secured consecutive victories for Kilmarnock for the first time this season and Calderwood has been encouraged by the players' response amid testing circumstances since he took over.
"We're getting there," he said. "We've not had too much chance to work on the training pitch. This is our eighth game in 26 days.
"It's not ideal when you're coming into a new club. But all credit to them, they have taken a few ideas on board.
"There is something about them, they are battling away and scrapping and getting results.
"We have beaten Celtic and Inverness but those games are gone now, and this will be a difficult match."
