COWDENBEATH have to end their run of two straight defeats this Saturday to get their bid to reach the top half of the table back into gear.

The defeats to Edinburgh City and Stirling Albion have seen Berwick Rangers and Stirling make ground on the Blue Brazil, who are still in sixth place in Ladbrokes League 2, but they need to start winning games again quickly.

Indeed, if they can beat Berwick Rangers at Central Park this Saturday, and then overcome Elgin City in the Highlands on January 12, they can make ground on the top five but getting wins is so very important.

Cowden will have Jason Talbot back for the Elgin game, but both he and Robbie Deas will have to sit out the Berwick match at Central Park this weekend.

Manager Gary Bollan was bitterly disappointed to lose at Forthbank but he is acutely aware that keeping 11 men on the park is crucial to his team’s hopes of moving up the table.

He said: “We opened the game well against Stirling, scored and seemed to be going in the right direction when Robbie Deas got involved in an incident in the box and it proved so very costly.

“The penalty was converted and suddenly we are down to ten and then we lose a second in time added on at the break.

“The second-half saw us create a few good chances but we just could not get a goal which would have given us something from the game.”

The manager added: “We simply have to try to avoid getting involved in incidents which are seeing us pick up red cards.

“It is a hard enough game with eleven on the park but ten makes it so very difficult.

“So when we take Berwick on this weekend we have to keep our discipline for their confidence will have taken a boost with their draw against leaders Edinburgh City on Saturday but we have to be ready for them.”

The manager will probably look to Harvey Swann to give him cover for Talbot at left-back and Jamie Pyper, who did well when he came on for Blair Malcolm at Stirling, is certain to deputise for the suspended Deas.

Martin Scott is fit again but Malcolm is nursing an injury although he may make it for the Berwick game.

The manager concluded: “It is important that we get back to winning games for that is the only way we can move up the table.

“We will have to be our best on Saturday for Berwick will not be an easy game.”