Stepping stone to Hampden
Friday, 10th Feb 2017Callum Morris played for Dundee United in two Cup semi finals but recalls Pars exits at Ibrox and to Hamilton
Callum Morris has watched Hamilton Accies twice this season hoping all the time to play them. Saturday provides that opportunity again but as a Dunfermline player rather than as part of the Aberdeen squad.
In October he watched as Accies beat the Dons 1-0, the second of only three league wins this season. Then in December Aberdeen defeated the Lanarkshire side 2-1 at Pittodrie. Callum said:-
"They are a decent team and play some good football. There is not much difference between the full time Championships teams and the SPL teams. It is almost just that they are in the Championship or SPL. With what has happened with Dundee United, Hibs, Hearts, Rangers and Dunfermline being down the league it has bolstered the division.
"Look at gates, our gate must be two or three times Hamilton`s every week. Like in England, the Championship is possibly the hardest league to get out of. You have to win it or you have a crazy play off system.
"Hamilton did it that way and knocked Hibs back down a division. I don`t think there is much difference, it is just a label that gets yourself on Sportscene."
Having seen off Buckie Thistle and Alloa Athletic, the Pars have earned the Fifth Round Cup tie against Hamilton. Callum feels that a day off League business will free up his team mates to go and have a go at their higher league opponents.
"There is no pressure on us and we can just go out and play football. Obviously everyone wants to test themselves against teams in higher divisions. It is a good opportunity because there are not that many places between us and them.
"We are confident that we can get a result and being at home is a big plus for us."
Callum played for Dundee United in two Cup semi finals including against Hibs last season and in his Scottish Cup games while at Dunfermline first time around, he experienced being knocked out by Rangers at Ibrox and being defeated by Hamilton at East End Park, he recalled:-
"We got beat off Hibs when we should have won that one. We had ample opportunities to win it. In the last fifteen minutes we had three one on ones when we should have scored. Then it went all the way to penalties and it was a tough one to take especially since Hibs went on to win it. We just need to go and do it again. You want to go that one step further."
After the set back at Falkirk last weekend Callum feels that frustration needs to be turned into a positive:-
"It gives everyone a kick up the backside and people have to go and prove a point to be in that team. It is a big strong squad that we have here. It is very competitive and I hope that I get an opportunity on Saturday because I want to make sure that I stay in the team for the following game.
"I know that we have a free Saturday but there is a big game coming up against Hibs. It has to be a good game to be involved in, everyone has a point to prove after the weekend."
Dwelling on the defeat to Falkirk Callum added:-
"It was just one of those games. I don`t think any one player who could put his hand up and say they played well. You get that and after that brilliant run sometimes the wake up call warns you that it is dead easy to be brought back down to earth with that one fixture."
According to the centre back who celebrated his 27th birthday only last week the players are "champing at the bit` and training has been more intense this week.
"Everyone demands high standards of each other, sometimes you can get the odd player who doesn`t perform but you do not often get a game like at the weekend.
"It is our job to turn it around and get a reaction. I think we will and there is no better opponent than a team from the division above. Hopefully there will be a big crowd here so bring it on!"
Callum is pleased to be back playing again having sat out the entire season at Aberdeen before he joined Dunfermline in the January transfer window.
"It is good just to know that potentially you are going to play and that you have a real chance. You can work hard all week knowing that if you put the work in the manager is going to look at you and think about you being in the team.
"It has been great so far. It has been easy enough getting on with the boys, I knew a few of the boys before from other places."
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