Let’s end first quarter on high, says Petrie

Montrose boss Stewart Petrie is looking for his side to end the first quarter of the league campaign on a high when they make the long trip to play Berwick Rangers this afternoon.

The Gable Endies are on a threegame unbeaten run at the moment and won last week in the Scottish Cup, comfortably negotiating a potentiallytricky tie against Stirling University 4-1.

Petrie is looking for more of the same today but he has warned his team that they will face a stern test against a Berwick side who have done well since Robbie Horn took over as manager and have won their last two matches against Peterhead and Annan.

Petrie said: “The lads produced a good, professional performance last week.

“It might have been a banana skin for us as the students came with a lot of energy and could have caused us problems if we hadn’t approached the game properly.

“The important thing is that we are through to the next round but the boys were excellent and I was delighted for Craig Johnston getting his first two goals for the club.

“He has been working really hard in training and in games so hopefully now that he has broken his duck, he will get a few more.

“It is back to league business this week and a trip to Berwick which is never easy.

“Robbie has only been in the job for a short while but there has been an upturn in fortunes for them and they have a lot of good, experienced players.”

Petrie added: “We have always had difficult games against Berwick and this will be no different.

“However, it would be good to come back up the road with a result and to finish the first quarter of the campaign on a high.

“Regardless of what happens, we will still be in and around the pack at the top of the table which is where we want to be.

“Then we can sit down, see how we have fared having played all the teams once and what will we try to do in the second quarter.”

Martyn Fotheringham is an injury doubt, while Jamie Redman is out along with long-term injury absentees Danny Cavanagh and Michael Bolochoweckyj.