COWDENBEATH

Mullen refuses to get carried away by team form

QUEEN’S PARK 0 COWDENBEATH 3

Football realist Fraser Mullen is refusing to get carried away by Cowdenbeath’s promising start to their League 2 campaign.

Saturday’s comfortable success kept the Blue Brazil in touch with pace-setting duo Cove Rangers and Edinburgh City, but goalscoring full-back Mullen has experienced enough disappointing times with the Central Park club to ensure his feet remain rooted to the ground.

After an uneventful first half, Mullen’s cool penalty broke the deadlock on 54 minutes and a leaping Craig Barr added a second 13 minutes from the end before Jordan Allan wrapped things up in injury time.

Mullen said: “That is four wins on the bounce, two at home and two away.

“We are doing all right just now and have two games at home coming up so hopefully we can keep it going.

“We are not, however, talking about promotion or anything like that. This is my fourth season here and we have had some rough periods.

“The first two seasons we were really struggling and finished bottom. Last year was a bit better and it is good to be up the other end, but we will just take it one game at a time.

“When you win games everyone is more confident. When you are down the bottom everything is much harder.

“We have been awarded four penalties this season and you don’t get them when you are at the bottom.”

Cowdenbeath survived a penalty scare of their own when David Galt tumbled in their box just seconds before Mullen made the breakthrough when a shot from Kris Renton cannoned off Cameron Clark’s arm.

Mullen said: “I was too far away to claim for it, but it was one of those that are given under the new rules. It is deemed a handball now.

“I have been to big games here when it is packed so it was a bit different, but it was a nice feeling.”

The second arrived 13 minutes from time when Barr dived to head home a corner and substitute Allan put the icing on the Fife side’s cake when he tapped in from close range three minutes into stoppage time after Renton’s free-kick was only partially saved by Willie Muir.

Cowdenbeath will host Broxburn Athletic in the second round of the William Hill Scottish Cup after the draw was made live on BBC Sportscene last night.

Brechin City are away to Annan Athletic while Dundee junior side Lochee United host BSC Glasgow. Games to be played on October 18-20.

Fraser Mullen said Cowdenbeath are taking things one game at a time.