Central Fife Times | Sport | Disappointing domestic form must improve

Friday, 5th September, 2008

Published: Thursday, 27th March, 2008 11:00

Disappointing domestic form must improve

By by Jim Stark

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Cowdenbeath face two home games in their next three fixtures and they must improve their disappointing domestic form.

They entertain Brechin City this Saturday, visit Hampden Park to play Queen’s Park next Tuesday then are at home to Alloa the following Saturday.

To have a realistic chance of avoiding the relegation play-offs Cowden must take at least five points from the three games or more.

Cowdenbeath have lost five home games in a row and that is something they really need to sort out.

At Ayr on Saturday the Fifers certainly corrected their recent defensive frailties and came so very close to winning the match, United scoring with virtually the last kick of the game.

Manager Brian Welsh was bitterly disappointed at losing such a late goal.

He said, “We were playing solidly and defending really well after John Dempster’s goal.

“Losing the services of Jay Shields for a second yellow card was a blow but the lads kept working away and to lose a goal with virtually the last shot of the game was a real kick in the teeth.

“We now face two massive games against Queen’s Park but we we know we have to look to pick up points from our other games starting with Brechin City this Saturday”.

The manager said there were some real positives to come out of the game with Chris Shanks playing excellently when he replaced Mark Baxter, Jay Shields’ performance and the contribution of Jon Robertson being stand-outs.

He added, “If I was to be critical we perhaps just defended too deep in the closing ten minutes when if we had taken the game out of our penalty area the situation which led to the equaliser could have been avoided”.

Brechin are still searching for a promotion play-off spot and will come to Central Park determined to pose Cowdenbeath problems.

Cowden will be without Mark Baxter whose come back on Saturday ended after 15 minutes and Jay Shields through suspension but among the ranks will be former Stirling Albion midfielder Marek Tomana. He signed up on Friday and will help improve Cowden’s midfield.

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