Match Preview: Cowdenbeath v Berwick Rangers – SPFL Ladbrokes League Two
Coughlin hopes to bring 3 points back from Cowdenbeath
‘Gers boss John Coughlin has declared his team will be heading to Central Park tomorrow afternoon with the intention of returning with 3 points despite being a side hampered by injury woes.
“I’m not going there to try and draw the match, and I’m certainly not heading there to lose. We’ll be going up against a team who, like us, may be suffering a little on the confidence front and a side who haven’t really found their way.
“The feedback I’ve received suggest it definitely won’t be an easy match. With them coming off the back of a win there is something for them to build on and their confidence may be slightly higher, but I don’t think they’ve found their rhythm just yet.”
“It’s a game that could swing either way and I think it may come down to the desire of the players on the park and them showing that they have enough to go on and win it.”
Berwick Rangers Team News:
Coughlin will be without both of his Hibernian loanees for tomorrow’s game after versatile youngster Ben Stirling picked up an injury in training with his parent club on Monday. Stirling joins his teammate Sean Mackie on the sidelines, who has now been out for almost two months.
Barry Hogg will also miss the trip through injury, whilst Graeme Beveridge remains a doubt. There is some respite for the ‘Gers manager though, who will welcome back midfielder Michael McKenna – a man he admitted was missed in last weekend’s 4-2 defeat to Elgin City.
Greg Hurst is likely to retain his place in the starting line-up
On how he’ll approach the match, Coughlin expanded: “We’ll be back to how we were in the past. The priority will be ensuring we’re secure at the back. When we open up it looks as though we create our own problems.
“We’ll be looking to make sure we mend that with a system that allows us to be more comfortable whilst retaining the goal threat to win the game.”
Coughlin hinted that he will be looking to get that goal threat by partnering Jordyn Sheerin with Greg Hurst one more after being disappointed with the striking relationship formed by Sheerin and fellow striker Darren Lavery.
“The biggest positive from our loss last week was the partnership between Hurst and Sheerin. I don’t feel I was getting that from Sheerin and Lavery. I’ve tried to put those two together but I don’t think they look like forming a relationship which can grab us the goals we need.
“We will be making changes to our system on Saturday and there may be some players left disappointed, but the results and performances have dictated that I have to make them.”
Cowdenbeath Team News:
Berwick haven’t visited Cowdenbeath since 2009.
Berwick fans looking forward to a reunion with former assistant manager Jason Dair will be left disappointed following Dair’s decision to move on from his role as first-team coach at Central Park last week.
There is a former ‘Ger on the Blue Brazil books too in the form of Charlie Denton, though he will not feature as he is currently out on loan with Whitehill Welfare.
One player who may make his full debut is Dundee United loanee Aaron Murrell, who came off the Cowden bench in a comfortable 2-1 victory over Montrose at Links Park last weekend.
Match Admission:
Fans travelling tomorrow are advised that a bus replacement service is in operation between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh Waverly, as well as Inverkeithing and Cowdenbeath. Fans travelling by rail should leave the game early in order to ensure they get a bus which arrives in Edinburgh in time for a journey back to Berwick.
Adults – £12
OAPs, U16s & Students – £6
Parent & Child – £14 with 1 child (12 and under)/£15 with 2 children (12 and under)
Match Odds:
SPFL title-sponsors Ladbrokes believe Cowdenbeath will build on last week’s win with another here, pricing the home side as favourites to take victory.
Cowdenbeath – 21/10
Draw – 27/10
Berwick Rangers – 2/1
Match Officials:
Scott Millar is the man tasked with handling this affair, and he will be assisted by Stuart Hodge and Jim Burns.
