Falkirk v Connah's Quay Nomads
Irn-Bru Cup second round (Sat 3pm)
Connah's Quay Nomads manager Andy Morrison believes his team faces a "dangerous situation" when they visit Falkirk in the Irn-Bru Cup on Saturday because the Scottish club has just appointed a new boss.
The Scottish Championship outfit entertain the Welsh Cup holders at Falkirk Stadium with Ray McKinnon having just replaced Paul Hartley in the manager's hot seat.
Hartley departed on August 27 with the Bairns bottom of the table after starting the season with four straight defeats.
Morrison said: "They've got the impetus of a new man coming in which will give them a bit of energy. I'm sure they'll be working hard this week in training on the things that were plainly obvious on Saturday (against Ross County) that they weren't doing right.
"It's a dangerous situation because a new manager, every player now is raising their game 15-20%, so we'll see."
Nomads lost their 100% record in the Welsh Premier League after a 2-0 defeat at Barry Town United last weekend and Morrison insists his players will be determined to bounce back.
"We've got to go up there and give a good account of ourselves," added the former Manchester City defender.
"In any cup competition, you're looking at the draw and you're hoping that you get a favourable draw. Would I have wanted a second division team at home? Of course I would have - that's an ideal scenario, it gives you a great opportunity, but we got Falkirk - a Championship team and we've got to go up there and give a good account of ourselves and make sure that we stay in the game as long as we can and make sure we cause them lots of problems, because they are a good outfit - it's a great set up there.
"It's the reward for the lads for a lot of hard work and we've watched videos, we've give it the same respect as what we did in Europe, I've been to watch them, we've had videos of them, so we're ready to go and hopefully things fall for us on the day and we give a great account of ourselves."
The game gives Morrison and his side the opportunity to go one better in the competition than last year and will mark Nomads' second entry into the Irn-Bru Cup after losing out to eventual runners up Dumbarton in the second round last term.
The Sons edged the tie thanks to a last-ditch equaliser in normal time and an even later winner in the dying embers of extra time from Cypriot international, Dimitris Froxylias, who will potentially come up against Quay on Saturday having signed for Falkirk in the close season.
Falkirk reached the quarter-finals last season, losing out to eventual winners Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1-0, but prior to that had defeated both Dunfermline and Irish side Sligo Rovers in the previous rounds.
This season's competition saw Falkirk enter at the first round against Rangers' U21s and goals from Dennon Lewis and Scott Harrison were enough to see the Bairns through.
Nomads will be without captain George Horan, following his sending off against Dumbarton in last season's competition while John Disney, Laurence Wilson, Danny Holmes, Andy Owens and Michael Wilde are all doubtful and subject to late fitness tests ahead of the game.
