Cowdenbeath are approaching their first- leg play-off match at Arbroath tonight in determined mood as they begin their bid to retain second division status. They've picked up only 18 points away from home (19 from home fixtures) but scored 27 while recent form has been OK - 7 points from their last 6 games
Cowden manager Brian Welsh sounded a positive note as he shrugged off his side's continuing injury problems. "Far from fearing this game, everyone is looking forward to it now," he said. "Players want to play in big games—and this is a big game —and while we know Arbroath will make it hard for us—if we perform to our capabilities we should win over the two legs."
Welsh is boosted by the return of key defenders Dougie Hill and Jay Shields, and Scott Gates —their on-loan winger from Dundee—but he still has seven other players ruled out through injury, including on-loan central defenders from Hearts, David and John Armstrong. The Fifers gave themselves a much needed lift for tonight's crucial match with a well deserved 1-0 win over Queen's Park on Saturday.
What was particularly pleasing for Welsh was the way the young players he brought in for that game performed—especially teenage defenders Matt Lynch, Kenny Adamson and Scott Linton. But with his injury worries slightly easing, Welsh will be opting for experience in tonight's game, with Hill and Shields almost certain to return to the defence.
Lichties manager John McGlashan is urging his players to relax and enjoy the experience tonight. He said, "This will be the third season in a row we have been involved in the play-offs, and they are always exciting affairs.
"Everyone at the club is massively looking forward to the two games and—although there will no doubt be more than a few jangling nerves—my lads now know exactly what they have to do.
"The past few weeks have been tough as we struggled to find the results we needed to earn our place in the play-offs—automatic promotion hasn't been an option for a long time with the way East Fife forged ahead of everyone else, but that's now behind us and we can concentrate on the job in hand.
"Tension and anxiety does not help players, but now the pressure is off and we can relax and, hopefully, play the way we know we can.
"There's not much to choose between the four teams in the play-offs—ourselves, Montrose, Stranraer and Cowdenbeath— in terms of ability, but Cowdenbeath obviously have the benefit of having been playing at a higher level and against stronger opposition during the past season. They put us out of the Scottish Cup by a single goal earlier in the season, so we have to believe we can beat them over two legs.
"With the exception of Stuart Ferguson, my squad is at full strength with no significant injuries and no suspensions for the first time in ages, and gives me a very welcome and rare selection dilemma.
"What I do know is that every senior player at the club is desperate to be involved and whoever starts the game or comes off the bench will be ready to do their bit. Some of the lads have been involved in our previous play-off battles, so they will know what to expect and will be able to pass on their experience to the other players.
"Having fallen at the final hurdle in the last couple of seasons, perhaps this will be the year we can go that extra mile and win promotion."