COWDENBEATH boss Gary Bollan was very unhappy with his players failing to get through to the third round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

He saw Cowden give up the lead in the closing minutes of the second round tie with Broxburn Athletic at Central Park.

Cowden certainly did not deserve to lose the tie but at times they found themselves being bullied off the ball by the East of Scotland Premier League side.

It meant that they often found themselves on the defensive and while for the most part they held on well, they lost a goal which they really should have avoided.

The team was without four regulars with loanees Peter Morrison, Chris Hamilton and Connor Smith not being released by their parent clubs and the on holiday Kris Renton also missing.

But the manager said that was no excuse for the off colour performance: “The players who were on duty for us as all first team squad players but over the 90 minutes they fell well short of what was needed.

“Yes Broxburn played really well and it was a big day for their club but our team has been doing well in Ladbrokes League 2 so should have been able to handle the task.

“Missing the loan players was something that we knew could happen but having the players available to slot in for them should have meant we could maintain the league form.

“It simply did not happen and they know full well how I feel on the subject.”

Cowden now need to win a replay at Broxburn to get a third round tie at Inverurie Loco.

Mr Bollan added: “If we want to get through next Saturday we will have to be a whole lot better than that home performance.

“We have been so reliable at home this season but that disappeared at the weekend.

“We really need to be much more aggressive and ensure we win our individual battles and be up for the task.

“Broxburn will want to to again make life difficult for us but it is up to us to ensure that we are able to overcome the situation and win the tie, that has to be our aim.”

The manager is aware that he will again be short of the loanees, although ‘keeper Kevin Drabowski will be fit for the Cove Rangers game a week on Saturday.

Kris Renton will be available and will be back in the front line for this highly important game for the club.

There are unlikely to be many other changes in the side with the small squad that the manager has available and Mikey Herd still out with a knee problem.

Broxburn brought 400 people with them on Saturday so there will be a hostile crowd at Albyn Park to greet the Blue Brazil next weekend but Cowden will look to silence them with a good performance.