The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Betfred Cup continues with second round of group games
Gable Endies will use East Fife game as yardstick – not victory over Falkirk
Montrose boss Stewart Petrie admits he will be using tonight’s Betfred Cup tie against East Fife as a yardstick to show just what his side can expect in League 1 this season.
The Gable Endies opened their cup campaign with a morale-boosting 1-0 win against Paul Hartley’s newlook Championship outfit Falkirk on Saturday.
Petrie’s players have another tough test against Premiership side St Johnstone next weekend before a tie with Forfar, another side who will be in League 1 this season.
The manager said: “I was delighted to get the win against a good Championship side at the weekend. It was a really valuable fitness work-out for the lads which is the most important thing at this stage of the season.
“We will not be reading too much into the result and it was probably a good time to get Falkirk with Paul bedding in a whole host of new players.
“However, it is always pleasing to get a win and we will take that into the game against East Fife.
“I will be making changes to freshen things up as we have a demanding schedule although some of the lads will have to play again.
“Anything we get against good, organised full-time teams like Falkirk and St Johnstone is a bonus. However, the games against East Fife and Forfar will be good at showing where we are in terms of our league opponents and what we have to improve on.”
Petrie has endured a frustrating summer so far in terms of transfer business.
He has brought in Josh Skelly and Paddy Cregg but has made no secret of the fact he is looking to add to his striking options and Petrie admitted there may finally be some light at the end of the tunnel.
He added: “We are still looking and hopefully we will have some news by the end of this week on one or two signings. We are actively looking at the loan market.”
Graham Webster will miss the game as he is on holiday.
Fife manager Darren Young has challenged his players to deliver top performances consistently starting against Montrose.
Young’s side earned a goalless draw at St Johnstone at the weekend and even seeing a bonus point slip away by losing the penalty shoot-out failed to wipe the smile from the Bayview boss’s face.
He said: “We did really well and I was sitting at McDiarmid Park proud of our performance when I heard that Montrose had done even better and were topping the group after winning at Falkirk.
“I was pleased with my players and I would imagine that Stewart Petrie was even more delighted. It would be great to turn in another top-notch performance but to find the net this time.”
Goalkeeper Craig McDowall is injured along with Scott Linton and Mark Docherty. Scott Agnew is absent as he is on honeymoon.