Fifers’ defending of set-pieces key for gaffer Young

East Fife manager demanding a big improvement against Brechin City after losing goals from set-plays

East Fife manager Darren Young has spent this week going back over instructions handed out to his players in pre-season to ensure their defending at set-pieces improves.

The Fifers head to Brechin with Young determined the failings seen defensively last weekend against Dumbarton is not a sign of things to come.

He said: “We were beaten 2-0 because we lost two goals from corners. Last season we went through a terrible run of losing goals from corners and we spent a lot of time in pre-season making sure it was not going to happen again.”

“Dumbarton had seven attempts at our goal and six came from set-pieces. They scored from two of them and that statistic shows how important defending from free-kicks and corners is. We need the players to make sure that the man they are picking up does not get the better of them.”

“We went over it again this week and I am looking for an improvement at Brechin.”

Young knows the result could have panned out differently had striker Kevin Smith not limped off with a calf problem that has ruled him out of this afternoon’s game.

He said: “In the first 25 minutes we played really well and we should have been a couple of goals ahead. We were playing with two up front and were well on top but unfortunately after Kevin was injured we lost our way.”

“He looks set to miss out at Brechin, however Anton Dowds could return after his injury problem and that would allow us to try and play the same way we did in the opening period against Dumbarton.

“If we can do that and people do their jobs correctly when we are defending set-pieces then we will be OK.”

As well as Smith’s absence, goalkeeper Craig McDowall remains out with a broken hand with Scott Linton and Mark Docherty not yet ready to return after lengthy injury absences.