Gowfers won’t take Fife visitors lightly

IT’S top versus bottom in the Super League at Laing Park this week with Carnoustie looking to at least maintain their seven-point lead with a win over Tayport.

On paper, the result should be a formality, with the Gowfers favourites to pick up the points.

However, it doesn’t always work out the way you’d expect and home boss Phil McGuire will be taking nothing for granted.

When the pair met at The Canniepairt earlier in the season, the Gowfers scraped the points with a 3-2 win. Since then, Carnoustie have gone from strength to strength, while the Fifers are still looking for their first league win of the season.

Tayport boss Chris McPherson must be wishing they could replicate the form that has taken them through to the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

The Canniepairt side are lagging behind others in terms of games played with their visit to Laing Park only their eighth league outing.

So far, they have only picked up two points, with the latest coming from last week’s dour goalless draw with Forfar West End.

McGuire has the bonus of adding Paul McLellan and Mike Cruikshank to his squad.

’Port will be without Conor Ireland, Greg Whyte and Ryan Suttie through injury. On the plus side, Lyall Shaw returns following a ban.

Meanwhile, Carnoustie’s closest challengers Broughty Athletic will be out to ensure the gap doesn’t widen by winning at home to North End.

The Fed were 2-1 victors in the last meeting but they will be facing a side who will be out to atone for last week’s 4-1 defeat by Carnoustie.

Broughty will be without Greig McNaughton through suspension, while Dokens boss Ross Lunan could make changes following last week’s defeat.

Lochee United head to Strathmore Park to face Forfar West End.

Bluebells manager George Shields will be looking for an improvement on last week’s performance which saw them drop two vital points in a 3-3 draw with Kirrie Thistle.

Shields felt, on chances, they should have had the game sewn up at halftime and he was particularly aggrieved at the three goals they conceded.

Shields’ pool is strengthened by the return of Scott McComiskie, Connor Birse and Scott Webster but Craig Smith and John Sinclair are injured, while Danny Millar is unavailable.

After being sent off in last week’s goalless draw at Tayport, West End are without the suspended Callum Walls.

Carnoustie’s Ryan Dignan scores the first of his two goals in the 4-1 win over North End last week.