GARY BOLLAN has urged his Cowdenbeath players to bounce back from Saturday’s play-off blow and build momentum ahead of attempting to preserve their league status.

A late Jordon Brown winner for Peterhead at Balmoor confirmed that the Blue Brazil will finish bottom of League Two, condemning them to the pyramid play-offs for a second successive season.

Either Highland League champions Cove Rangers or Lowland League winners Spartans lie in wait for Bollan’s team, who will battle to avoid dropping out of the senior leagues after successfully seeing off East Kilbride on penalties last season.

While their final two games of the regular campaign, at Berwick Rangers this Saturday and at home to Annan Athletic on the final day, will have no bearing on their final position, the Blues boss hopes they will instil confidence before the nerve-shredding two-legged tie.

“It was a tough one on Saturday because I felt as though we matched Peterhead for long spells,” Bollan said.

“If we score with five minutes to go to make it 1-1, then we’re not facing the position that we are now with Berwick getting beat.

“It’s disappointing but we need to get on with it. I gave the players a night off on Tuesday as we have a few niggles, but we’ll be back in on Thursday and ready to go.

“I think the improvement is there for everyone to see and the new players have made a difference.

“We do look a better team and are hard to beat, which is pleasing, but I’d be more pleased if we could win some more matches.

“We know where we are now so we’ve got to get on with it. We’re looking to go and win our next two games; I don’t think Berwick or Annan have much left to play for but we want to have momentum going into the play-offs. It’s important we build confidence.”

With one eye on the play-offs – to be played on May 5 and May 12 – Bollan won’t take any risks with his players and said: “There are two or three of the guys who have wee niggles that they’ll hopefully get over, and a couple who are walking a tightrope in terms of suspension, so we won’t take any risks.

“The players work ever-so hard in training and on a Saturday, so there are no faults there, but we are gifting goals at times and have two weeks before the play-offs to rectify that.

“I hope the fans can get behind us, as they have done in weeks gone by, before two really important games for the club.”