Boss Peter Murphy has suggested he could make changes to Annan Athletic’s line-up for tonight’s Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup clash against Kelty Hearts.

Having claimed four points from their first two matches in Scottish League Two this season, Murphy’s Galabankies will switch their attentions to their second-round tie (7.45pm kick-off). The Hearts have started well in the Scottish Lowland League, taking nine points from three matches.

Speaking after Athletic’s 1-1 draw at home to Elgin, Murphy said: “We need to see how the boys recover because that was a tough game, [and] we have such a small squad. There probably will be a few changes to be made. It will be a tough game. 

“Kelty Hearts won 5-0 again [on Saturday], so they are a side full of confidence. There is a lot of money in that league, and they are one of the sides that are tipped for promotion.”

Murphy, meanwhile, praised the character of his team after Matty Douglas’ first Annan league goal earned them a point at Galabank after Shane Sutherland’s controversial opener.

He said: “After going 1-0 down, I’m delighted at the character shown by my boys.

"In the first half, I thought we dominated. The second half it could have gone either way, [but] I thought we were more likely to score after keeping Sutherland quiet for long periods of the game.

“Then, an absolutely horrendous refereeing decision [allowed Elgin to score]. Having now seen it on the video, where the player stops our lad from taking a quick free-kick by sticking his foot out, to block the ball. He [referee Chris Graham] allows play to continue.

"I have looked up the rules and shown it to the referee, and he still said his thought was the player had his back to the play and didn’t move his foot towards it, and our player kicked it off him.”