COWDENBEATH will have to up their game when Annan Athletic come to Central Park on Saturday.

Admittedly the Blue Brazil improved greatly after the interval at Broadwood but it was not enough to get something from the game.

And manager Gary Bollan is very aware that he needs 90 minutes like the second ‘45’ to have any chance of getting a win on the board this weekend. Clyde simply bossed the first-half and it meant that all the real openings fell to the hosts.

Annan opened their campaign with a point at home to Elgin and won twice at Central Park last term, so this will be no easy game for Cowden.

The manager was most unhappy at the way his team started the Clyde game: “We had worked on our game plan all week but in the early stages of the match did not produce anything approaching it at all and it gave them the chance to keep the ball and create chances.

“We had a few words at the break and we were much better in the second-half, getting the ball down and making good passes, but really the damage was done in the first 45 minutes.”

He added: “We have to do a lot better than that if we want to establish ourselves as a team that is going to pose sides a lot of problems.

“Clyde are a decent side, and our start to the game gave them a real advantage which they converted into two goals and we were chasing the game.

“We have to ensure that we we start the game properly, that is key.

“Annan are the sort of side we cannot afford to allow to dictate the game and on Saturday we will have to go out and take things by the scruff of the neck and play the sort of passing game that will give us the opportunity to create good chances throughout the game.”

Cowdenbeath will have attacker Martin Scott back in the picture for this one and he is almost certain to be handed his place back in the side.

Left back Jason Talbot picked up an injury in the Clyde game and could be out for a couple of weeks with Harvey Swann the likely replacement.

The midfield department may see Kyle Miller back in the picture after the rather flat show on Saturday.

Added Mr Bollan: “Jason took a severe knock on Saturday and is very doubtful but we missed Martin against Clyde and we will look for him to be involved against Annan this weekend.”

Cowden play East Fife at Central Park on Tuesday night (7.45pm start) in an Irn Bru Cup first round tie which will he that extra derby edge to it.