Hearts aiming to turn up pressure on rivals

Today’s trip to Broughty Athletic is the first of five massive games coming up for league leaders Kelty Hearts as they look to clinch the title.

Second-placed Bonnyrigg Rose trail them by 20 points, but have seven games in hand.

So Hearts, who have yet to play Rose at home, will be desperate to keep the pressure on their rivals who play the first leg of their Scottish Junior Cup semifinal at Glenafton this afternoon.

Hearts are without the suspended Shaun Greig for today’s game.

Fed boss Keith Gibson will be looking for a major improvement on last week when he labelled his side’s performance in sneaking a 2-2 draw with Newtongrange as “very poor”.

Grant Lawson and Danny Cavanagh are fitness doubts but Paul McLellan could feature.

After a 3-0 defeat at Thomson Park, Carnoustie are out for revenge when Lochee United visit Laing Park.

The hosts have lost only twice in their last 16 matches and are two points better off than the Bluebells, who have two games in hand.

Missing eight players last week, the Gowfers posted an impressive 2-0 win at Penicuik and boss Alan McSkimming expects to have a fair few back today, so delays his selection.

Connor Birse is Bluebells’ only absentee.

The Gowfers have added former St Andrews manager Phil McGuire and Michael Spence to their backroom staff to assist with development, particularly community youth football.

Dundonald Bluebell have had a great first season in the top league and sit fourth with three games left.

However, to have any chance of retaining that spot they must beat Bo’ness in their final home game. The visitors trail them by just a point and have four games in hand.

Paul Quinn and Craig Wedderburn are Dundonald’s only absentees.

Hill of Beath host Musselburgh, currently third from bottom.

They are five points behind, so a Haws victory would put further daylight between themselves and the drop zone.

The Fifers are again without suspended pair Russell Grierson and Stephen Forbes.

Jeanfield Swifts host Newtongrange Star in a clash vital to the futures of both clubs.

A win for Ross Gunnion’s side against their second-from-bottom visitors would go a long way to ensuring that the Perth side stay clear of the two automatic relegation places and aid their hopes of avoiding the play-off place.