TALBOT will head into Saturday’s crunch cup tie with Medda as the underdogs - and that’s just fine according to boss Tommy Sloan.

In the tie of the round, Talbot have been handed a nightmare trip to Meadow Park to take on the Premier Division pace setters.

The Beechwood gaffer guided his side to victory in Saturday’s derby with Glenafton and is now setting his sights on dumping league rivals Meadow from the cup.

Sloan, pictured below, said: “We’re really looking forward to it. It really doesn’t get much bigger than a cup tie between Meadow and Talbot.

“They’ll probably go in as favourites as the league leaders but to us it’s just the way the cup draw goes.

“Ideally we’d rather have avoided Meadow and I’m sure they are thinking the same. But it’s cup football and you’re never sure of anything.

“We had a good win on Saturday to set us up for it. Glenafton have been playing really well recently so we just did the job we had to do.

“We will be the underdogs at the weekend, but we don’t mind that. Let’s hope Meadow think we are the underdogs going in to it as well.” Sloan has been boosted this week by Craig McCracken’s decision to stay at Talbot.

The on-loan Ayr United defender was wanted back at Somerset Park, but he has chosen to stay at the Bot.

Sloan said: “He’s enjoying his football here and we’ve been delighted with him. He came here as a defender but he’s been playing in midfield and he just adds a little bit for us in the middle of the park.” Talbot take on Irvine Meadow in the Scottish Cup Round 3 at Meadow Park on Saturday with a 1.45pm kick off time.