The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Blue Brazil need to start winning soon, says Fox
Cowdenbeath manager Liam Fox knows that he has to lift his Central Park players for the visit of Stirling Albion in order that they do not become detached at the foot of League Two.
Last weekend’s 4-1 defeat from Arbroath left Fox furious, but he felt for his players after a much improved display against Edinburgh City in midweek resulted in another defeat.
Fox said: “The dressing room was flat after we had lost 2-1 on Tuesday and everyone was on the floor.
“We knew that the game was a chance to get ourselves closer to the pack – however it slipped away.
“We actually started really well and managed to get ahead. We were doing well and then the penalty was given and it was a horrible decision.
“That meant that we went in all square at the break.”
Fox added: “I was very critical of the players for the performance at Arbroath. They responded to that and put in a much better performance against Edinburgh City.”
With seven points to pull back and two games in hand, with 12 matches to go, the season is far from over for the Fifers.
However, Fox knows that they need to start winning soon.
Fox added: “We simply have to react positively. We have to start winning as we cannot let a feeling of isolation sink in. Stirling had a great result on Tuesday night when they beat Elgin and are on a good run just now. However, we won at their place in our last game of 2016 and we will look to do so again.”
Fraser Mullen misses out through suspension, with Kenny Adamson and Matthew Rooney injured. League Two leaders Forfar face a Clyde team today that hasn’t won in 11 games.
But Station Park boss Gary Bollan is wary of the new manager bounce, with interim duo Jon-Paul McGovern and Peter MacDonald now in charge.
Bollan, whose own team are winless in their last three, said: “There are a good group of players at Clyde and they will be out to end the disappointing time that they have had.
“We have had a couple of difficult games against them this season already and this will be the same especially as there are new managers in place.
“They might have had a few poor results recently but we cannot take that into account. We simply have to apply ourselves in a professional manner.”
That professional manner will include returning to the type of football that has seen the Loons top the table for most of the season.
Bollan added: “We didn’t get our passing game going against Montrose last week and that was disappointing. They are a much improved side and a draw was the right result in what was a hard, hard fought game.
“On days like last weekend when you sense that you are perhaps not going to get the break you need to win the game it then becomes important not to lose it.
“We did that but we realise that is three games in a row where we have not won.
“It will be good to change that but it will take hard work and far more accuracy with the ball to make it happen.”
Former Dundee and Raith Rovers midfielder Eddie Malone serves the final game of his three-match ban, but Danny Denholm returns from a suspension.
Meanwhile, former St Johnstone and Dundee striker Peter MacDonald admitted he was delighted to be in temporary charge of the Bully Wee, who were rocked last Sunday by the sudden resignation of former Rangers and Scotland captain Barry Ferguson.
In an interview with the club’s official website, MacDonald – who won league titles with both Saints and the Dark Blues in a goal-laden career – said: “JP and I are both confident in our abilities and we played at a decent level.