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As the season edges towards the conclusion of the first quarter, only a single goal separates us from Arbroath at the bottom of the cinch Championship table, and with the pair going head-to-head at Balmoral Stadium, it has the feel of a potentially pivotal ninety minutes.

Dick Campbell’s side opened with successive goalless draws, then lost four on the bounce. They stopped the rot with a first win of the season at Cappielow a fortnight ago, and backed that up by beating East Fife in the SPFL Trust Trophy.

Like Cove, their matches have generally been pretty tight, but they have struggled to score goals; their total of five being the lowest in the division.

That’s a trend Jim McIntyre will be hoping to see continue, and he has made moves in recent weeks to strengthen his defensive options. Kyle McClelland made his debut as a substitute during the comeback draw against Partick Thistle, and he has now been joined at the club by fellow Premiership loanee, Jack Sanders from Kilmarnock.

With Scott Ross and Mark Reynolds also vying for starting places, along with Morgyn Neill, the gaffer now has plenty to choose from as he looks to find a solution to the problem which has seen us concede an average of almost two goals a game:

“I’m delighted to get Jack here, he is big and strong, physical, and a solid defender. He’s also quick, and comfortable with the ball at his feet.

“Importantly, I now have good cover which will allow me to go with different formations at the back, depending on the game. That’s the point I was hoping to get to this summer.”

Another plus Jack brings is experience of the division, and he feels he can draw on that to help the team pull clear of the danger zone:

“It was tough in the Championship last year, we had to dig deep to get results at times, and as you’ve seen this season, any team is capable of beating all the others.

“I played against most of the other sides, so I know what they’re about. Thankfully, we were winning most games, and that’s what I want to do here. I’m a Cove Rangers player for the rest of the season, and that’s going to be my focus.”

Both sides know that victory would not only strike a psychological blow, but it would also open up a gap, and potentially draw in the teams just above them, with Hamilton, Morton and Raith all facing tricky fixtures this weekend.

Like Jack, Mark Reynolds knows all about the league, and he believes there will be plenty of twists and turns in the coming months:

“The Arbroath game is massive, but I can tell you, every game feels like that in this division.

“I was lucky enough to win the Championship with Dundee United, and whether you’re up at the top or near the bottom, every match feels the same.

“It’s a strange league. People maybe don’t realise just how competitive it is. Everybody can beat everyone else; anyone can take points when they’re least expected to.

“The good thing is we don’t need a massive overhaul. It’s little things we need to fix, and one win could make a huge difference to how the season pans out.

“There’s more on this one perhaps as Arbroath are in a similar position to us, but we’ve put in a good week’s training, and we’re all ready for it.”

Other than Fraser Fyvie, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, Jim McIntyre has a full squad to choose from for what will be a first ever competitive meeting between the sides.

The new Home and Away stands are now fully operational – fans must buy the appropriate tickets to sit in them. Full details, and prices, can be found at the Cove Rangers website https://coverangersfc.ticketco.events/uk/en

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