Gemmell boost for Stenny Stenhousemuir striker John Gemmell is available to face Inverness in the Scottish Communities League Cup after suspension. Gemmell, who was the matchwinner against holders Kilmarnock in the last round, returns after a two-game ban. He may have to be patient as the Warriors have scored six times in his absence, although manager Martyn Corrigan is unable to finalise his side until fitness tests are carried out on defender Scott Buist and midfielder Brown Ferguson. The experienced Eric Paton remains sidelined, with Corrigan saying: "Our strikers took their chances really well in Saturday's 4-4 draw with Albion Rovers but defensively we were poor. "We need to improve that for Inverness who will be boosted by battling back from two goals down to draw with Hibs at the weekend." Inverness assistant manager Maurice Malpas is desperate to atone for some recent cup disappointments. Caley Thistle have reached two Scottish Cup quarter-finals in four seasons under Terry Butcher and Malpas, but have not progressed to the latter stages of the League Cup. They have the chance to make the last eight of the competition at Ochilview on Tuesday and Malpas is looking for the same application as they showed against Arbroath when they won 2-0 in the second round. "Since we have come here our record in the cups has been quite poor," Malpas said. "The club has got a great tradition of upsetting the odds and getting to semi-finals, and that's something we are trying to put right this season. "In the past we have probably concentrated more on our league games the following week and messed about with the team. "That hasn't been the case this season and it won't be the case against Stenhousemuir. "They're a good team and an attacking team but we have got to make sure we impose ourselves on the game like we did against Arbroath and get a result." Martyn Corrigan, who played under Butcher and Malpas at Motherwell, led Stenhousemuir to victory over holders Kilmarnock last month but the former Dundee United defender feels his team will progress if they repeat their second-round display. "Any time you are drawn in a cup against a lower-league team you expect to win but you have got to earn the right to win," Malpas said. "We desperately want to get to the latter stages - you only have a couple of games after this then you are at Hampden. "We know what we are going to face. We did excellent against Arbroath, a similar team, we had the right attitude and absolutely destroyed Arbroath. "We are looking for the same type of performance against Stenhousemuir."
Source: PA
