Albion Rovers v East Fife match preview
Feb 9 2012 By Colin Paterson
IRN-BRU SECOND DIVISION:
ALBION ROVERS v EAST FIFE
Cliftonhill, 3pm

Tomorrow's referee: Alan Muir.
Albion Rovers top goalscorer: Scott Chaplain (7).
East Fife top goalscorer: Ryan Wallace (14).
Albion Rovers form guide: L L L L L W
East Fife form guide: L W W D L L
Last meeting: East Fife 2 Albion Rovers 0 (Tuesday, January 24).
Any chance of a game this weekend?
That would be nice. The icy weather has claimed Rovers' last two games against Cowdenbeath and Stenhousemuir.
The players haven't been in action since losing 2-0 at East Fife nearly three weeks ago.
What are the prospects of some Rovers revenge?
The Fifers seem to be something of a bogey team and the Coatbridge men haven't even scored a goal against them, never mind take a point.
John Robertson's outfit won 3-0 at Cliftonhill in October and were many observers' favourites for the SFL2 title.
How good is East Fife's Bobby Linn?
The 26-year-old is an impressive player and shouldn't be plying his trade at this level. Linn operates effectively on the right-side of an attacking midfield three.
He has scored nine goals so far this season and makes his side tick.
What's the latest injury and suspension news?
Rovers are without midfielder Tony Stevenson and John Gemmell who must each serve a one-game ban.
Full-back Barry Russell is available again and new signings Jack Werndly and Daniel McKay could also be included in the matchday squad.

Looks like with these new strikers we are in for a tough one tomorrow.

Feb 8 2012 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge
ALBION ROVERS have signed more two strikers ahead of the Irn-Bru Second Division end-of-season run-in.
Manager Paul Martin has bolstered his options in attack after capturing Jack Werndly and Daniel McKay.
The pair will stay at Cliftonhill until the end of the season which ensures plenty of competition for places up-front.
And both could make their debuts this weekend with Rovers due to host East Fife.
Teenager Werndly has arrived on loan from Rangers in order to gain first-team experience.
The 18-year-old was previously on the books of West Ham United and Norwich City before moving to Ibrox.
New team-mate McKay already has loan stints at Ayr United, where he scored seven goals during two spells, and Brechin City under his belt.
But the 20-year-old couldn’t force his way into boss Kenny Shiels’ plans at Rugby Park and was freed last week.
Rovers have now signed four hitmen in less than a month with released Stenhousemuir attacker Paul Quinn and Montrose’s Sean Pierce also putting pen to paper.
The extra firepower will come in handy this weekend with star striker John Gemmell suspended for the visit of the Fifers.
Midfielder Tony Stevenson is also banned but full-back Barry Russell is in contention for a place after finally recovering from a hamstring injury.

THE contribution made of late by East Fife’s fringe men has been praised by Bayview boss John Robertson.


The manager pointed to the efforts of some of his squad members, who have grabbed their chance in the starting XI following changes made on the back of poor performances.

And Robertson is now urging those still left on the sidelines to make sure they too force their way into the top team set-up.

The manager said: “A few weeks back after the Cowdenbeath game (which East Fife lost 4-0) we looked at one or two of the players who were left out and were desperate to play.

“So the likes of Craig Johnstone, Steven Hislop and Robert Sloan have come in, played really well – and that’s what we want.

“Steven Hislop in particular has been excellent for us, really since he came on against Falkirk, and he’s one who hasn’t really being playing a lot of games.

“But these players have come in and taken their chance, and now we want to see the likes of Scott Dalziel and Paul McQuade putting pressure on them to get in the team.

“We have a squad of 18 players and really any one of them could play; there are always places up for grabs.

“One or two players have been doing really well but one or two haven’t, and we’ve had a chat with them about it.

“The difficulty myself and Gordon (Durie, assistant manager) have is which two to leave in the stand, because we can only pick 16 players.”

Saturday’s scheduled fixture at home to Brechin City fell foul of the weather, with the Bayview pitch frozen.

The manager told the Mail the players were instructed to visit a local gym in a bid to keep up their fitness.

This weekend, the Fifers will visit Coatbridge to face Albion Rovers, a side Robertson’s men have only recently played, coming out victorious with a tough 2-0 home win.

The manager said: “We will have to play well.

“In the last game, I thought we were excellent in the first 15 minutes and the last 15 minutes, but we really had to battle for the rest of the game.

“That’s the one thing about us that moment; we’re battling really hard.

“If we can get that bit more consistency at either end of the park, then that will see us where we want to be.”

Ryan Wallace will return from injury for the game against Albion Rovers, with David Muir’s on-going injury troubles making him the only possible East Fife doubt for the trip west.