Blue Brazil keen to quench away-win thirst

Cowdenbeath head to Stenhousemuir looking to end a near five-month wait for an away win.

And for the second week running preparing his side for their opposition hasn’t been easy for manager Gary Bollan.

He said: “We faced a much-changed Queen’s Park team last weekend and Stenhousemuir have turned their playing pool around quite markedly as well.

“They have probably gone through more change than Queen’s Park have and facing new-look teams does pose a few challenges.

“Like Queen’s Park, we know the players Stenhousemuir have brought in but not how they will line up and be organised. Gary Harkins was only added on Thursday so how he will fit in is something else we will need to get on top of.”

The Blue Brazil matched up well against their Hampden hosts last weekend and should have left with at least a point.

“We watched that game back and our slow start definitely cost us,” Bollan said.

“We lost a goal in the first 10 minutes but the more the game progressed the more we were on top.

“We were the better team throughout the second half. However, we could not grab an equaliser. We had 10 efforts at their goal and never scored. If we were more clinical in the final third then we would have won. We have done well against Stenhousemuir this season already by being clinical.

“We have scored three goals at Ochilview and three goals at Central Park in wins and we need that cutting edge again.”

Bollan added: “Our run of away results has been frustrating. We do not really set up any differently from the team that does so well at Central Park. We are still sitting third and I know that to stay there we need to start securing wins away from home.

“Slow starts cost us at Queen’s Park and at Cove recently as well so if we can get going from the first whistle in this one then we have a chance of ending that run.”

Michael Herd is a doubt after suffering an ankle injury in training and on-loan Hibs goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski is still unavailable.