Brechin aiming to set up final-game decider at Dens

Shock home victory would take Dods’ side top of Group D ahead of visit to face Dundee

A win against Dunfermline tonight would give Brechin City a last-game shot at progressing to the knockout stage of the Betfred Cup for the first time.

By defeating Dundee on Sunday, the Pars have opened up Group D.

And if Brechin can pull off a shock of their own at Glebe Park, they would rise to the top of the standings, with a trip to Dens their final fixture.

“We’ve got to go for it,” said manager Darren Dods. “There’s nothing to lose.

“There are a few teams still in with a chance of topping the group and it would be an exciting finish if we could beat Dunfermline.

“Having a chance going into the last game would be more than most people would have expected and third place is the highest we’ve finished in the group stage in previous years.”

Dods has been very impressed by Dunfermline.

“They lost a lot of players,” he said. “But they have gelled quickly and beat Dundee without James Vincent and Faissal El Bakhtaoui, who could play against us.”

Andy Jackson and Ryan McGeever are still out for Brechin.

Meanwhile, Allan Johnston has warned against complacency as his Dunfermline side seek to maintain their 100% Betfred Cup record.

The Pars boss could have on-loan Dundee duo Faissal El Bakhtaoui and James Vincent available for their second debuts for the club after the pair missed Sunday’s 1-0 victory against their parent club at Dens Park.

That success left the Fifers well placed to progress from Group D if they can chalk up another win at Glebe Park.

However, Johnston is eager to see his new-look squad guard against a dip in standards as they bid to continue their impressive start to the competitive campaign.

He said: “If you talk about complacency, there are no easy games. Even this early in the season, we know it’s going to be difficult.

“We’ve got to make sure we start the game well, and I think we will because of the competition we’ve got.

“The players know they’ve got to play well to stay in the team.

“So, we’re just looking for another really good performance.

“It sounds easy but we know that it is going to be difficult.

“It is a hard place to go, especially this early in the season and playing so many games in a short period of time.”

El Bakhtaoui and Vincent have yet to feature since agreeing season-long loans from Dundee.

Johnston added: “It is good that we have a few options coming back.

“Faiss and James Vincent are coming back, Tom Beadling is not far away as well, so you can see the strength in depth that we have got.

“Allied to the players we’ve already got, we’ve got a really strong squad.”

Pictures: SNS/ Craig Brown. Darren Dods, top, feels his Brechin team has nothing to lose tonight; Faissal El Bakhtaoui, above left, and James Vincent could come into the Pars side after sitting out the weekend win over Dundee.