Fifers boss knows what to expect from visitors

East Fife manager Darren Young has done his homework on Highland League visitors Brora Rangers, even though the Dudgeon Park men have found matches hard to come by in 2018.

Young said: “Brora have not managed to play many games recently but I have gathered the information that I can.

“I sourced the footage of their win at Stranraer in the last round and saw some action from a game against Buckie on January 6.

“They play a 4-4-2 formation and like to get the ball forward to their strikers quickly.

“They have good players in their squad, especially Joe Malin in goal and from the middle of the pitch forward.

“Zander Sutherland used to be a winger but now plays through the middle alongside Steven Mackay and they have the experience to trouble a lot of defences.”

The Bayview boss believes his players are masters of their own destiny today.

He said: “If we continue to play as we have done in the past couple of weeks then I am sure that we will do OK.

“I was delighted with the win over Alloa last weekend and, while some people raised their eyebrows, it was a deserved success.

“We have been playing well for a few weeks now but individual mistakes were costing us.

“I knew that if we cut them out of our game then we would start winning again.

“If we let standards slip back the way then we could struggle and I do not want that to happen.”

Young is hoping that a success over Brora will help their League One promotion push.

“Winning this tie could help us push upwards in the league,” he said.

“We have a bit of momentum building after the draw at Airdrie and the win over Alloa.”

Craig Watson is the only absentee for the hosts, with the defender still recovering from knee surgery.