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We face a trip down to Fife this weekend for our final meeting of the season with Kelty Hearts, hoping to maintain our unbeaten run against the New Central Park side.

Both encounters at Balmoral Stadium finished 2-2, Mitch Megginson netting a double as we rallied from 2-0 down back in September, while it was Kelty who fought back in January after Mitch and Rumarn Burrell had given us a two goal advantage inside the opening twenty minutes.

Our previous away fixture was a tight one, Burrell on target as we snatched a 1-0 success, the game coming during our eleven match run without defeat.

Results have not been as impressive of late, the slump seeing Cove slip out of the playoff places, and last week’s heavy loss against Montrose was a hard one for everyone to take. While acknowledging that, Paul Hartley says this week has been all about trying to restore confidence and positivity:

“We are going to need that for the run-in, the next eight games, that has been the key message. We were all so disappointed last weekend, but you have to move on quickly and try to perform on Saturday.

“If there’s any negativity, that can have a real impact. Training has been good this week, the players have been sharp and bright; all the focus is on Kelty and getting it right down there. The boys know exactly what is required now.”

“We’ve done a lot of tactical work, but it’s down to fine details and the mindset has to be spot on. We know how to win; it’s about getting that feeling back again. We’ve got good, experienced players, boys who have been over the course before, who have won trophies and promotions. They need to tap into that, and I will do everything I can to help along the way.”

Kelty have slipped out of the promotion race in recent weeks, losing their last four games, and with Annan Athletic picking up results, might yet have to be wary of finishing in the relegation playoff place.

Despite that, Paul has the utmost respect for their manager Michael Tidser, and says he likes the way Hearts approach the game:

“Like a few of us, the clubs who don’t have massive squads, they’ve been hit by injuries, but they’ve got a lot of good young players, and I still think Michael has done a terrific job. We will have to be at our best to win the game, we’re going to have to be really strong, fully focused on getting the three points.”

The boss knows only too well that we are going to have to rediscover the form shown in the late autumn and early winter if we are to have a chance of making the playoffs, and he says it is a time when everyone has to pull together:

“That’s what you do, isn’t it? Work together, stick together; we need the fans’ support at a time like this, and I know they will give that. When it’s going great, you’re winning, everybody’s happy, but when you have a blip, that’s when you really need the backing, and I have no doubt our supporters will be there for us.

“Cove fans have had a lot of good times throughout the years; some clubs never get what we’ve had. There are bound to be setbacks, that’s football, and it’s important we are all pulling in the same direction; that’s what will help us get back on track.

“It has been a tough spell, but it can still be a successful season, and a win at Kelty would give us a massive lift for the last couple of months of the campaign.”

Blair Yule is still sidelined and Sena has been ruled out with a groin injury, while a few others are carrying knocks, so a final decision on the starting line-up will not be made until nearer kick-off.

Supporters planning on traveling down to Kelty can find all the relevant information HERE.

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