The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Look sharp! Fifers boss calls the shots
East Fife manager Darren Young has told his players to sharpen up so they can see off visitors Clyde this afternoon.
The Methil side lost 2-0 at Partick T histle last weekend and Young knows that his side can do better .
Young said: “There were a few things that went against us at Firhill, however overall it was not good enough especially in the final third.
“I am expecting a positive reaction in this game.
“We need to be a lot sharper all over the pitch but in particular we need to be sharper in front of our opponent’s goal.
“We had chances but we seemed to hesitate rather than be decisive.
“If you get a shot in you can score, win a corner or force your opponents into scoring an own goal.
“However, if you do not get your shot away then the danger is over.
“The game could have turned out differently as we were denied a penalty in the opening minutes.
“We were given a freekick just outside of the box, however Kevin Smith was fouled in the box after he carried on playing.
“That was frustrating, as was conceding a penalty after Pat Slattery slipped and fell into their player but, overall, we cannot hide behind those incidents.”
Young added: “We were too nice. I am looking for a more ruthless nature to be on display against Clyde.
“I watched the footage of their game against Mo n t r o s e and David Goodwillie scored a hat-trick.
“One of his goals came from a mistake but his other two came from him having a go from a header and then a shot.
“A win would take us above Clyde. That would be a great way to bounce back.”
Goalkeeper Jordan Hart is a doubt for East Fife but Ryan Wallace is available after a knock.
Cowdenbeath return to action at Elgin after an enforced absence when last S a t u r d a y ’s game wi t h Albion Rovers was postponed when the Coatbridge side could not field a side due to Covid-19 issues.
Central Park manager Gary Bollan is hoping that the lack of 90 minutes game time does not hinder his side at Borough Briggs. He said: “Our games with Elgin are always tight and keenly-contested affairs. They are always competitive and our last game before the shutdown last season is a great example of that. We led and then scored a late goal to make it 2-2 before Elgin went up the park and scored to make it 3-2.
“Football was stopped a couple of days later and we had to sit and brood on that disappointment for a few months.”
Bollan added: “We are going into the game after a week off and there are a few ways to look at that.
“Positively some boys get some rest after a busy start to the season, whereas negatively you could say that Elgin will come into this one sharper as they had a great win at Stirling.
“The 90 minutes will tell if last Saturday’s game being off has helped us.”
Former Arbroath striker Kane Hester missed out for the hosts when they won 1- 0 at Fo r t h b a n k last weekend and Bollan admits that he will need careful attention if he returns to the Elgin line-up. He said: “Elgin’s win last week was all the more impressive when you consider that Kane, who is their top goalscorer, was banned. He possesses bags of pace and he is a real threat as he has an eye for goal. We will have to keep him quiet if we are to win.”
Jamie Pyper, David Cox and Gavin Morrison are absent for the Blue Brazil through injury, while Kris Renton is a doubt. Robbie Buchanan is out through suspension.