The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Confident Fifers hoping to get back on winning track
Manager Young says players have got over Dumbarton defeat
East Fife head to table-topping Arbroath looking to get back to winning ways after their eight-game run of victories ended abruptly at Dumbarton last weekend.
The Methil men are, however, not feeling sorry for themselves.
Manager Darren Young said: “This is the perfect game to bounce back in. Despite our recent good run no one from outside of East Fife will give us a chance but we view it differently.
“We have a game plan to get something from Gayfield and we will look to implement it.
“Last Saturday we never defended well enough at the first goal and that allowed Dumbarton to take a real boost.
“They were nervous as it was their first game under their new manager Jim Duffy and that goal got rid of a lot of nerves. Their second came right on halftime from an attack of ours where I felt that Scott Agnew was fouled.
“We were two down at the break and went out in the second half to try and get level. That left us a bit open and Dumbarton took advantage.
“It was a disappointing way for our terrific run to end but we will look to bounce back against Arbroath.”
Young added: “It will not be easy as they are top of the league for a reason but we will look to get winning again.
“We had a bounce game during the week and a good number of players who have been on the fringes were involved and four of them scored.
“Everyone was a bit down at the beginning of the week but that game and a good training session on Thursday has everyone buoyant again.”
Young is hoping that Daryll Meggatt will return after injury kept him out at Dumbarton.
He said: “As well as being a good defender Daryll is a very good organiser. He is always talking on the pitch and we missed that last weekend.”
Ross Davidson is suspended after being dismissed against the Sons with Rory Currie remaining sidelined with a broken toe.
Meanwhile, Lichties boss Dick Campbell is looking for his team to further cement their place at the top of the League 1 table.
The Red Lichties have opened up a seven-point gap on second-placed Raith following last week’s results that saw the Angus side win at Stranraer while Rovers were losing 3-2 at Forfar.
Although East Fife suffered the aforementioned loss at Dumbarton last Saturday, Campbell, who has just won the Ladbrokes Manager of the Month award for October, is taking nothing for granted against Darren Young’s team.
Campbell said: “They may have lost last week at Dumbarton but they had won their previous eight games in a row so we know we are in for a difficult game at Gayfield.
“However, we are determined to keep our unbeaten run going at the top of the League 1 table.”