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The team faces a do-or-die ninety minutes at Gayfield in the full knowledge that anything less than a victory will end any lingering hopes of finishing in eighth place, and clear from the relegation skirmish.

Arbroath’s recent run has seen them open up a six point advantage over us, and given their significantly better goal difference, even a draw will not be enough for Cove.

Hamilton’s loss to Caley Thistle on Tuesday night benefitted both clubs. We can leapfrog them with a win, while Dick Campbell’s men will preserve their Championship status if they take the three points.

With the injury situation similar to last weekend, and a host of players missing who would otherwise be likely starters, the squad will again be stretched to the limit; a fact which makes manager Paul Hartley’s job even more demanding:

“We’ve been badly hit, and it’s got worse at a time when we really needed as many available as possible. That’s not me trying to make excuses, it’s the fact of the matter. At this level, you simply cannot do without key players, and we’ve missed the likes of Fyvie and Yule for half the season.

“I’ve never been able to put out a settled team, and that hasn’t been through choice, it’s down to the catalogue of injuries. You want consistency, but every week we’ve had to change things because of players being ruled out.”

Despite that, the manager says there is no point in letting the situation get to you; the attitude has to be spot on:

“We’ve got to be positive, got to look forward to it. It’s still all to play for and we’re by no means dead and buried yet.

“We know we have to get wins now. There has been a good opportunity in the last couple of matches when we’ve taken the lead, but been unable to hang on to it. If we get that chance this week, we need to see it through.

“It’s been the story of the season, from long before my return. We just haven’t been good enough defensively, and we’ve given away far too many poor goals.”

Veteran midfielder Iain Vigurs has had a big part to play in recent months, and gave the team hope with an outstanding free-kick against Caley Thistle last weekend. He has experienced many scenarios in his long career, and knows that fortunes can change in an instant:

“I’ve been in positions like this before and managed to get out of them. It’s about the whole squad, not just the eleven boys on the pitch, pulling together and fighting tooth and nail for the cause.

“It’s felt as if we’ve been running out of steam towards the end of games. That’s not a physical thing, we’re all fit boys, it’s all down to the pressure, it’s mentally draining, and we need to deal with that better.

“Despite how things have been going this season, I’ve still enjoyed it. You’re out there doing what you love, and you get those little moments in a game which still give you that buzz.

“No-one wants to be part of a relegation. For starters, even as a part-time club, you know the impact it can have on everyone around the place, and none of us wants that.

“This is the time for us as players to step up to the mark and prove it.

“It is likely to be a pretty intense afternoon at Arbroath, but we have to be up for it, ready for the fight, and do everything we can to give ourselves a real chance in the last couple of matches.”

That is exactly what the manager is hoping for from his depleted squad, and he fully expects his players to rise to the challenge:

“At this stage it’s all about what’s in the mind and the heart. You need to be brave, determined. When the pressure is on, it’s about putting your body on the line and showing that desire.

“You can’t afford to be negative. Everything has to be positive and upbeat, and if we can show all those qualities, we’ll give ourselves a real chance of taking those valuable points.”

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