From the Courier: Todd Lumsden returned from the heat of Spain yesterday to face the heat of a cup tie at Tynecastle, with the Arbroath boss determined that his side will give Hearts a run for their money.
Lumsden endured a painful two hours on Saturday with his mobile phone glued to his ear as the Gayfield men lost 4-1 to Dunfermline in the Petrofac Training Cup.
And tonight they face an even harder test against last season’s runaway winners of the Championship in the League Cup.
Lumsden said: “I was not at the Dunfermline game as my family holiday had been organised a long time ago, in fact when I was still the assistant to Allan Moore.
“He had given it the okay as we wanted our son to celebrate his birthday with a large family group in Spain.
“Things have moved on since then however I can only take my holidays at certain times from my work so it could not be re-arranged.
“I dialled in and was speaking to people at the club throughout the game and it was a sore experience.
“We lost three goals in the first half hour and never gave ourselves a chance. The second half was a lot better but if we are to do anything against Hearts then we have to start the game well.”
A trip to the Premiership newboys may just be the perfect return to work for Lumsden, who noted: “Playing at Tynecastle will be a great experience for us.
“A night time game there is always a bit special and with it being their first game of the season there should be a decent crowd. That will lift our players to go out and give a good account of ourselves.”
“There is no doubt that Hearts are a good side and we are huge underdogs but the longer we can stay in the game the more chance we have of creating a shock.”
Kieran McWalter returns from a two game ban however Mark Whatley remains out and Craig Johnstone is a doubt with a head injury. Trialists Michael Jones and Gary Philips, who were involved against the Pars, will stand down for this game as competition rules do not permit their participation.