SO Cowden are still four points adrift at the foot of the table despite losing at Annan, but the problem is that only Clyde are within comfortable catching distance.

While Cowdenbeath were losing at Annan, albeit unluckily, Edinburgh City thrashed Elgin City and Berwick Rangers won at Forfar, so these teams are now seven points clear.

So it all means that this Saturday’s home game with Clyde is a real must winner.

Victory for the Blue Brazil would cut the deficit to just one point with five matches to go and could well see them cut the deficit with the other two sides, also, so victory this weekend is a key element in the survival plan.

Yet the Blues have taken only one point from their last nine home games so things are going to have to change drastically on Saturday for the hosts.

Manager Gary Locke was very disappointed to leave Galabank with nothing on Saturday: “We had a lot of the ball and attempts at goal and also missed a penalty.

“They too saw a spot-kick saved, but really we had enough chances to get something from the game.

“The performances against Clyde last Tuesday and Annan certainly show that we have every reason to feel that we can win games in the run-in but the thing is that we must get them.

“To do that we have convert the chances that our good play is creating and that is so important as we look forward to Saturday.”

Clyde were ahead twice against Stirling Albion on Saturday but lost by the odd goal in five which means that they too have had a poor run so something will have to give this weekend.

Mr Locke is looking to his team to defend well and also finish clinically against Clyde, who are capable of grabbing goals through the dangerous Peter MacDonald, but they are guilty of leaking them at then other end.

Said the Cowden boss: “We certainly have to look to play better than we did against Montrose at home and get ahead in the game like last Tuesday.

“We had one or two really good chances to take the lead against Annan but did not convert these and it cost us dearly.

“However, I feel that we can get the win we need and we can move up on to the tails of Clyde and the other teams.”

Cowden will probably go with the same starting eleven as against the Bully Wee in the midweek game and at Annan.

Meanwhile Mr Locke is hoping that the Cowden fans turn out in big numbers to cheer his team on this Saturday for what is a really huge game in the club’s 136 year history.