Hibs beware: Berwick also have a Stephen Thomson

After the events of the weekend a glance at Berwick Rangers’ teamsheet tonight will undoubtedly send a shiver down the spine of each and every one of Colin Calderwood’s side.

For one name will jump out at them, that of Berwick defender Stephen Thomson who hopes that once again Hibs will be left cursing his name after St Mirren’s Steven Thompson and Steven Thomson claimed the goals which sank the Easter Road side at the weekend.

Hibs daft he may be, but the 23-year-old believes the inconsistency on display again at the weekend could just give Third Division Berwick the opportunity to pull off a Scottish Communities League Cup shock.

He said: “Being a Hibs fan I know what it is like, it always seems to be up and down, they get a great result one week and then lose the next week. You just don’t know which Hibs team will turn up on the night.

“They might give us a real doing and I’ll end up eating my words but it’s a one-off game which has to be settled on the night and we think we have a chance. We played Hibs pre-season so we know what they are about. They got a few lucky goals and beat us 3-0 that day but we didn’t think it told the full story. We had a lot of pressure and we’ll be going into the game believing in ourselves.

“The first goal will be important, if we can get it then the Hibs fans will get nervous and perhaps get on their backs while we believe we are pretty sound defensively.

“Hibs are the big club, but we have nothing to fear.” Thomson and his team-mates already have experience of making life difficult for SPL opposition, acquitting themselves well despite going down 2-0 to Celtic in last season’s Scottish Cup, the memory of which, he feels, will stand them in good stead at Easter Road tonight.

He said: “We gave them a good run for their money. I was up against James Forrest who is lightning quick and tricky while Freddie Ljungberg made his first appearance that day. It was a good experience, great to play against that type of opposition.”

While Thomson may feel he is in a no-lose situation, he believes plenty of his team-mates will have a wee point to prove with the likes of Damon Gray, Lee Currie, Steven Notman, Darren Smith and Kevin McDonald having all played for Hibs in the past. He said: “We call ourselves the Berwick Hibernian because there are so many of us it creates a good bit of banter in the dressing-room, but I’m sure those guys will want to show why they shouldn’t have been let go.”