Plenty of reasons for visitors to seek elusive victory

East Fife host an Arbroath side looking for a victory to cement their play-off position, with Bayview boss Darren Young reminding his players that going for promotion is not the only reason the Lichties have for winning this one.

The manager explained: “We have beaten Arbroath twice so far this season and also scored a last-minute equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw.

“Despite anything else that record will give them three reasons for wanting to beat us.

“Arbroath will make the play-offs as I do not see Stranraer catching them even if we do complete a hat-trick of wins.

“They are a side who have improved throughout the season and the signings they made in January have strengthened them. However, we have our own reasons for wanting to win.

“We are on 42 points and our target is still to get to the 46 points we achieved last season or more.

“That was viewed as a successful season and it would be good to match that especially when you consider the upheaval of last summer.”

Young has set his players the task of showing a consistent side to their game as he explained: “Winning 3-2 at Queen’s Park last weekend was an enjoyable result but it was a bit of a roller-coaster of a game.

“We started off really well and played that way for first half-hour and could have been even more than the two goals up. However, we then lost poor goals either side of half-time and Queen’s Park had a chance to go in front.

“We settled down and got ahead again and could have won by more than the 3-2.

“If we can play at the high standards we showed at Hampden for the full 90 minutes then we have a great chance of winning.”

Young will be on the bench as Jonathan Page and Craig Watson are suspended and Mark Docherty, Scott Linton, Kevin Smith and Mark Lamont are out injured.

Meanwhile, Arbroath boss Dick Campbell is looking for his side to do the business at Bayview today and finally guarantee their place in the play-offs.

The Lichties moved back up to third in the League 1 table thanks to their draw at home with Raith Rovers last week, while their closest challengers Alloa were losing to Stranraer.

Stevie Farrell’s side remain just outside play-off contention in fifth, six points behind Arbroath.

Stranraer travel to champions-elect Ayr United this afternoon so, depending on their result and what Arbroath can do against East Fife in Methil, the Angus side could finally clinch their long-term target for this season and begin preparations for a full tilt at promotion.

Campbell said: “I was fairly happy to get a point last week against a good Raith Rovers team.

“They are obviously a full-time side but I felt we matched them and had a real go, with three up front.

“We also did all right defensively and the return of Tam O’brien helped with that.

“We are back in third place in the table on goal difference ahead of Alloa and we are almost assured of our playoff place.

“It is very much in our own hands although I am wary of an East Fife side who cannot go up or down and are sitting comfortably in mid-table.

“However, it is all about ourselves and we have a full squad to choose from with the exception of Steven Doris.

“So I do not think there will be a lot of changes and hopefully we can get something out of the game.

“There is a lot going on around us with Alloa at Forfar and Stranraer at Ayr but we just have to concentrate on ourselves and do the business at Bayview.”

Lewis Vaughan: back after ban.