Brechin manager prepared to face ‘new’ Bairns

Falkirk have a new manager and almost a new team since Brechin City last played them.

So maybe the opportunity to watch the Bairns for himself was no bad thing for Glebe Park boss Darren Dods.

His own side’s weekend game was called off, meaning Dods was able to take in Falkirk’s defeat by Livingston.

“Peter Houston was still the manager when we last played them,” said Dods.

“The likes of Kerr, Miller, Hippolyte, Austin and Craigen were all playing. I think Paul Hartley has had something like 10 out and eight in.

“It’s virtually a new team.”

That new team has been producing highs and lows since Hartley took over and Dods noted: “They are capable of performances like the one when they thrashed Dundee United.

“We need to expect them to be at their best.

“They lost 3-1 in the game I watched but they should have scored for 3-2 which would have made it an interesting end to the game.”

The free weekend may have been a bonus for one of Dods’ players.

“Paul McLean wouldn’t have made it,” he reported. “He stretched his knee ligaments a bit in a block tackle and hopefully the few extra days will mean he’s available. Otherwise it will be the same squad.

“We were able to get a training session arranged at Stirling University on Saturday and hopefully we can put in a good performance.”

Hartley wants his players to bounce back and open up a six-point gap on second bottom Dumbarton.

He said: “Livingston were better than us in terms of how they played and how they took their chances.

“We were off the pace and that can from a slow start which we never really recovered until late in the second half.

“We had been doing well in the gritty part of the game, the dirty work that needs to go on, but that was not as strong on Saturday and we will need to get it back for the Brechin game.

“It was a bad day with a disappointing result and performance but we will put in behind us and move on.”

On-loan Watford striker Alex Jakubiak could make his first start with Hartley saying: “I will freshen things up and Alex, who scored a good goal at the weekend, is in my mind to start.”

Goalkeeper David Mitchell remains out injured along with midfielder Sean Welsh.

Paul McLean: postponement has given him an extra few days to shake off knee injury.