Co-operative Insurance Cup

COWDENBEATH boss Danny Lennon is planning to make a selection shake-up for the Fifers’ first round tie at Montrose tonight following the 4-1 weekend hammering at the hands of league newcomers Annan.

“Our defending at times on Saturday was diabolical, and that game should serve as a reality check for our players if they hope to achieve anything this season,” said Lennon yesterday.

“We have had our successes defending as a team, but we just did not do that against Annan— I will be looking for us to bounce back immediately against Montrose.

“There will be changes, and I have no doubt I will get the correct response from my players.

“We know it will be a very difficult game at Montrose—who will be going into the game as favourites—but they have a lovely playing surface which should suit us.”

Cowden are still without full back Mark Baxter, midfielder John O’Neil and striker John Dempster for tonight’s cup tie.

However, Derek Fleming, who made the bench against Annan, has now fully recovered from a calf injury and could make a return to the starting line-up.

Gable Endies boss Jim Weir believes Cowdenbeath will be “hurting” as much after their surprise defeat to new boys Annan as his team were following their 6-0 hammering by Peterhead—and he hopes to take advantage.

“It will sting—as we all know after taking a tanking ourselves the week before,” said Weir.

“Results like that can take away your confidence, but you have to realise that sometimes you’ve just got to sit and take your medicine —there’s no point looking back.

“Our game with Dumbarton was a difficult match after the previous result, and we made changes to try to rebuild our confidence.

“I was disappointed not to get the win, but pleased with the reactions of the players to our Peterhead defeat.”

Weir is hopeful of having a near full-strength squad available for the match.

“John Maitland, Chris Hegarty and Chris McLeod have all picked up knocks—but there is a big possibility that they could be fit as they are young lads—while Keith Gibson and John Baird are both back,” he said.

After a relatively satisfactory start to the league on Saturday, RAITH ROVERS will travel to meet Albion Rovers tonight hoping to kick-start a lengthy run in this season’s Co-operative Insurance Cup.

Rovers held fellow title favourites Ayr United to a goal-less draw at the weekend and the second division side will be keen to continue gaining momentum by seeing-off Albion at Cliftonhill.

Raith boss John McGlynn admitted he is looking for his team to go on a decent run in the cups during this campaign, having beaten first division Clyde to earn a tie against Motherwell in last season’s CIS Cup.

“We’ll obviously be looking to get through this tie and generate some extra finance for the club, which we can perhaps invest back into the team,” he said.

“It’s always a tricky tie playing a team from a lower league, but it’s about attitude—if our attitude is right on the day then we should go through.”

Raith fans will be hoping their side can avoid the embarrassment suffered at the hands of the Wee Rovers back in 2004, when the Kirkcaldy club lost 2-0 at home to Albion in that season’s Challenge Cup competition.

Albion boss Paul Martin is more concerned about his own players’ performance than any of the visiting Raith Rovers ones.

“We had a run of four excellent performances up until Saturday’s visit of Forfar, but for some reason we slipped back into bad habits and gave a poor, poor performance in front of our own fans.

“We are a young side, but we need to be more consistent,” he said.

Albion are boosted by the return of Willie Martin and Alan Reid after suspension, but Callan Adam remains injured.

ALLOA boss Allan Maitland cannot wait for the game against Elgin to start in order that his side can get Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Arbroath out of their system.

“Saturday was a huge disappointment—we got stuck in traffic on the Forth Road Bridge going to Gayfield, and that seemed to set the tone for the day,” he reflected.

“We never got going, but tonight’s tie is a chance to redeem ourselves—that is what is great about football, there is always another chance to get back on your feet and we aim to take this one.”

Wasps will be fielding as strong a side as possible, but Brown Ferguson, Dougie Wilson and Iain Campbell are definitely out, while Andy Ferguson is struggling.

FORFAR go into tonight’s tie against Partick Thistle at Firhill undaunted by their opponents.

Visiting boss Dick Campbell is leading by example in the assault on his old stomping ground by refusing to let nerves get in the way of their mighty task against the first division outfit.

Cool Campbell said, “I’m not bothered my shirt about the result of the game.

“We are in a cup tie away from home against a full-time side, but there’s no pressure whatsoever on us.

“Partick Thistle will be desperate to get through—they are desperate for the money and what comes with that, but it doesn’t matter for Forfar.

“All the pressure will be on Partick Thistle, and we will go in as big, big underdogs—but I’m happy with that.

“I don’t care who we play, I wouldn’t be worried about playing Rangers in the cup, let alone Partick Thistle.

“At the end of the day, I’m not interested in Partick Thistle—my focus is on Forfar.”

Confidence is on the up at Station Park after the Loons won their third division opener against Albion Rovers at the weekend and earlier took care of Arbroath in the Challenge Cup.

“We will go down there and keep our game plan simple—we’ll try not to lose a goal early,” the Sky Blues’ gaffer said.

“We will have a go and I go into this game as I do every other one, expecting to win.

“Forfar can do it.

“I look at the game as giving my players a chance to show me what kind of level they want to play at.

“I will learn a lot about my team, no matter the result.”

Pat Keogh will be unavailable for the trip through injury, although Campbell has yet to make his mind up over the team he will field.

“I’m still deciding who will play, that’s the power of selection,” he said. “I might keep things the way they are—I might change them.”

Thistle have had to rule out Mark Roberts and will also be without Alan Archibald and Liam Buchanan.