ROSS PLEDGES BLUE BRAZIL BATTLE TO BEAT THE DROP

Cowdenbeath manager Maurice Ross, right, has vowed his side will “fight to the very last” as they look to pull off the great escape and avoid the dreaded drop as they gear up for their pyramid play-off final second leg at home to Bonnyrigg Rose.

Ten-man Blue Brazil went down 3-0 away at the Rose last weekend after having defender Harvey Swann dismissed in the first half, and must now overturn that deficit at Central Park if they are to retain their SPFL status and 117-year stay in the senior ranks.

Ross’s men have 90 minutes to save their season and he wants his players to throw everything at ex-Cowden loanee Robbie Horn’s men.

Ross explained: “Ultimately we are 3-0 down in the tie at half time, and we need to throw absolutely everything we have at the game.

“We will need some good fortune in there as well, but we need the desire to leave every last ounce of ourselves out there on the pitch.

“Anyone who has ever watched football would be appalled with some of the decisions last week, and watching it back I felt I saw exactly the same at the time.

“For the penalty in particular, it is a free-kick to us, if anything.

“We can’t think about needing three goals from the start, you can’t score three in the one go so we just need to focus on getting the first one.

“We need bodies between the lines, not anyone refusing forward runs or passes and we need to fight until the very last because we all know what is at stake and we need to be prepared to go the extra mile.”

Defender Swann will miss the game as he sits out a one-match suspension, while the club have confirmed that season tickets will be valid for the game.