Petrie uses Stirling’s run to make crucial point

Montrose boss Stewart Petrie has highlighted Stirling’s run as a warning that his side’s League 2 safety is still not assured.

The Gable Endies lost to Dave Mackay’s side at Links Park last week, a win that extended the Binos’ unbeaten run to six games. During that sequence of results, they have amassed 14 points and moved from eighth to fifth, one point ahead of Montrose.

So Petrie is still adopting a cautious approach despite his side being 12 points ahead of today clash with Cowdenbeath at Central Park.

“Credit to Stirling Albion last week as they deserved their win but we were lacking in ideas up front and conceded soft goals at the back,” he said.

“Saturday’s game at Cowdenbeath is a huge one for us.

“They obviously have a new manager in Gary Locke and he has been in the game for a long time.

“They have picked up four points in the two games since he came in and they probably deserved to win against Elgin in midweek, so we know it will be tough.

“We are in the final quarter of the season and into the nitty gritty but we have picked the lads up this week and we are going there to win.”

Ryan Ferguson will miss the game through injury, while Kieran McWalter is a doubt. East Fife boss Barry Smith has paid tribute to his players’ fitness ahead of today’s crunch clash with Alloa at Bayview.

The Methil men will approach the game confidently after last weekend’s win at Livingston.

A superb defensive display to kept Livi at bay was followed by an 85th-minute winner by Jason Kerr.

Smith is hoping for more of the same against Jim Goodwin’s Alloa, who are also in form.

The manager said: “It was a fine all-round performance at Livingston last week and I was delighted, especially with the way we defended.

“They had a couple of chances but we showed a lot of resilience to keep out a full-time side and then go up the park at the end to score late on.

“It speaks volumes players’ fitness.

“We obviously work them hard for the at training, but they all look after themselves really well.

“There are a couple of personal trainers in the squad but they all know that, as well as the two nights a week, they also have to do a wee bit extra and they are always fully prepared for a game on a Saturday.”

East Fife are without Jonathan Page, who is suspended, along with the injured Mark Lamont, Tony Wallace and Kyle Wilkie.