Blue Brazil out to make it tough for leaders

Cowdenbeath aim to do what no other side have done this season and that is pick up a point against Cove Rangers at their Balmoral Stadium stronghold – even though the Aberdeen side have made a tough task even harder.

Paul Hartley’s table-topping outfit signed Peterhead’s attacking talisman Rory Mcallister this week to add to the arsenal that has already scored more than 50 league goals.

Blue Brazil manager Gary Bollan said: “Cove have beaten every team from League Two on their own patch this season, so getting a positive result was always going to be hard, however, it is even harder now that they have Rory on board.

“He is a goalscorer and will be out to get off to a flying start, so we will need to be strong defensively for the full game.”

Bollan’s side have come the closest to denting Cove’s impressive home record, as the Central Park boss explained: “We went there in August and found ourselves two goals down after an hour.

“However, we battled back and took the score to 2-2 with 12 minutes to play.

“It looked like we were heading home with a point until 20 seconds from the end when we gave the ball away and Declan Glass scored.”

Bollan added: “That was a cruel way for the game to end, however, it does mean that we can go there and not be fearful.

“We also put on a good show when we played Cove at our place. We took the lead and then Cove equalised before they got a goal from a corner that was never a corner.

“We lost 3-1 but again we know that we gave Cove a hard afternoon and that is what we will look to do again.”

On-loan Hibs goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski is again missing through injury with Bollan set to hand another opportunity to Joshua Rae to impress as a trialist.

Striker Kris Renton is still out with a fractured cheekbone.

Gary Bollan: Cowden will have to be strong defensively.