Hallowe’en may still be a week away but East Fife boss Stevie Crawford is already a haunted man as his side welcome Forfar to Bayview this Saturday .
The Methil manager has struggled to come to terms with last weekend’s capitulation to league leaders Brechin, which saw his men squander an early lead and fail to offer any attacking threat in the second half.
His post-match “talk” to the players could be heard through the closed dressing-room door such was the ferocity of it, and with the riot act well and truly read, Crawford now wants a reaction from his squad on the pitch.
He said, “It’s happened too many times to us this season where we’ve taken the lead and come away with nothing.
“I don’t think I’ve felt as bad after a result since our game against Stirling near the end of last season.
“It’s Jekyll and Hyde stuff and we need to get more consistency in our performances.
“We have to get a winning mentality and it’s my job to tinker with the personnel and formations until we have that.”
Crawford’s endeavours to guide the Fifers to their first win in almost two months will not be helped by a spate of injuries in his squad.
John Ovenstone is ruled out after taking a hefty head knock against Brechin, whilst David Muir and Lloyd Young are both doubts due to hip and foot injuries respectively.
Stewart Murdoch faces a late fitness test but Steven Campbell has trained this week after sustaining a blow to his foot in last Saturday’s match.