Morris gets chance to end goal drought

Former Hawick Royal Albert frontman Josh Morris will get the chance to show that he is the answer to Cowdenbeath’s lack of goals when the Blue Brazil host Peterhead today.

The 26-year-old summer signing will start for the first time in League Two as manager Billy Brown looks to turn good performances into wins.

Brown said: “Josh will get the opportunity to show that he can score goals at this level.

“We need someone who can find the net and he will start this one to see what he can do.

“We should not have lost to Stenhousemuir last weekend and we should not have lost the two games before that. However, we are a side who cannot score a goal at the moment.

“It is a problem that we have been working on since pre-season when it was known that Kris Renton and Dale Carrick would not be with the club this season.

“They have been a big loss as can be seen by our goals for column which stands at only two.

“The goals against column is decent as it stands at only four and that shows that we have a platform to build on.”

Brown added: “We are in the position where we are fighting for every point and that fight will be easier if we can score.

“We are facing a really strong squad in Peterhead but that does not faze me.

“We have faced Dundee United twice this season and in both games we have done really well. In fact in the last one we could have secured a win.

“If we can play like that again and come up with a goal then we will have taken a big step forward.”

Jamie Pyper is still out, with Shaun Rutherford set for a fitness test.

FORFAR ATHLETIC v ARBROATH

Forfar boss Gary Bollan is hoping that Ousman See can remind Arbroath manager Dick Campbell why he was interested in signing him.

The striker scored at Alloa last weekend, only to see it count for nothing as a result of two late goals.

“Playing well and not picking anything up is no consolation,” said Bollan ahead of today’s Angus derby.

“The only good thing to come from the game was that Ousman See scored his first goal for us and that will be a great boost to his confidence.

“Arbroath fancied him as well during the summer so hopefully he can give them a reminder of what they liked about him in this game.”

Bollan knows that the Lichties are also looking to move on from a disappointment.

He said: “Arbroath will be wounded as no-one would have predicted them losing 4-1 at home to Albion Rovers.

“These derby games always have an edge to them and this one has a wee bit more as it is two disappointed teams going against each other.

“We know where we are in the table but it is still very early days. A win puts us within a point of Arbroath and in the pack of clubs just outside of the top four.”

Grant Adam remains out with Jamie Bain a doubt after picking up a knock in training.

Arbroath boss Dick Campbell is hoping this will be the perfect fixture for his side to bounce back in after last weekend’s frustrating defeat.

Brian Kerr’s side beat the Lichties 4-1 at Gayfield with Campbell left scratching his head that his team did not take something out of the game.

Now, though, he is determined to get back to winning ways at a club where he spent nearly eight years as manager.

Campbell, who last night signed Montrose striker Gary Fraser on a one-month loan deal, said: “Last Saturday was incredibly frustrating.

“We went to Ayr two weeks ago and won against a full-time side with possibly the best performance since I took over at Arbroath only to be beaten 4-1 at home by Albion Rovers.

“Our goalie didn’t have a save to make for most of the first half and they scored two great goals in quick succession. • Forfar’s pitiful record in Angus derbies last season cost them the League Two title last season and, after four defeats on the bounce in League One, if ever there was a time Gary Bollan’s men needed to put that right, it’s now.

“But we went up the park, hit the bar and then missed an absolute sitter.

“In the second half we had waves of attacks but conceded again. It was a very strange game.

“Brian was very complimentary about us but I wish we could have played them again this week.

“However, we do have the ideal game to bounce back after last week’s defeat with a big derby up at Forfar.

“I was a month short of spending eight years there and it is a great club.

“Like us, they were promoted last year and they are struggling to find their feet a bit.

“This is a derby though and whoever wants it most on the day will come out on top. Hopefully it is us.”

Campbell made his move for Fraser as he has major selection problems in attack.

He added: “We do not have our troubles to seek up front.

“Bryan Prunty and Josh Skelly were already out with injuries picked up during bounce games in the international break while Gavin Swankie is unavailable.

“Steven Doris was stretchered off against Albion Rovers.

“Thankfully he has not broken his leg as was first thought but he has strained the ligament behind his knee and will be out for at least another fortnight.

“So it is good to have Gary on board.” nrobertson@thecourier.co.uk

Josh Morris: first start as Cowden look for goals.