BERWICK Rangers boss Jimmy Crease has stressed the importance of having a good cup run ahead of today’s second-round Scottish Cup tie at Highland League side Deveronvale.

The Borderers will be looking to emulate last year’s cup run when they were rewarded with a fourth-round glamour tie at home to Celtic – and Crease hopes for another good draw if his side progress this year.

He said: “The cup is very important for us.

“In the third round there are a lot of so-called minnows, but if we get through that, and tomorrow, we could get another good draw in the fourth round.

“Last year we had Celtic at home and that was very important to the club because it helped us clear the club’s debts with it being live on TV.”

Berwick’s league form has been up and down recently but they have been doing well in the cups – especially away from home, most notably with a 3-1 away win over Partick Thistle in the League Cup.

Crease believes his side are guilty of playing “too much football” at times, but is confident Rangers can put a run of victories together after coming from a goal down to earn a point against Alloa last weekend.

He added: “Deveronvale are a good team and we are expecting a very hard game.

“We are giving them the respect they deserve (Berwick travelled up to Aberdeen last night in preparation for the game) but we are expected to win and I will be very disappointed if we don’t.”

Berwick will have to make do without their top scorer Fraser McLaren, who already has five league goals to his name this season, because of a toe injury.

Captain Chris McLoed misses out on the game through illness. Ian Little is also a doubt.