Early Start For Cup Semi-Finalists

Last updated : 17 April 2015 By ed_ScottishFitba

C:WindowsTempphp17F0.tmpHibs take on Falkirk in the first of the Scottish Cup semi-finals at Hampden Park on Saturday with the game kicking off at 12:15. Much of the focus of the two Championship play-off hopefuls will fall on striker Farid El Alagui who faces his former club at the national stadium. Former Bairn, El Alagui ruptured an Achilles tendon in August but has returned in recent weeks and was on the scoresheet in the Edinburgh derby last Sunday.

El Alagui, who has become a fans' favourite at Easter Road, said: "When I was injured and trying to get back before the end of the season, I wanted to get ready for these big games. When you see the fixtures and all these exciting games, you push yourself even more to make sure you are going to be ready. For the confidence it was really good to prepare by winning the derby, especially the way we did it. We were outstanding in the first half. But it will be a totally different game against Falkirk. They always manage to produce some good young players, that seems to be their trademark. They have had a really good season so it will be tough but if we manage to do everything right and play our game, then I think it will be a very good game."


Falkirk's major concern is top goalscorer Rory Loy who has not played since suffering an ankle injury in the quarter-final win against Queen of the South. Manager Peter Houston, who won the Scottish Cup with Dundee United in 2010, is also without ineligible forward John Baird while Botti Biabi missed last weekend's defeat by Queen of the South with mumps, forcing 16-year-old Kevin O'Hara to come on up front. Falkirk are undefeated in three league games against Saturday's opponents this season, drawing two and winning one and will be eager to atone for a painful defeat by the same opponents at this stage of this competition two years ago. That day Falkirk led 3-0 at half-time before eventually losing out 4-3 after extra time.