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The team faces a massive head-to-head with promotion rivals Alloa Athletic on Saturday evening, a game which could have a decisive bearing on the outcome of the season.

By the time we kick-off at Balmoral, Montrose will already have finished against Hamilton, and if the Links Park side fail to win that one, the door will be open for Cove to reclaim a playoff slot with just two matches remaining.

To do so, the players will have to buck a trend; Alloa are the only side we have failed to take a point from during the campaign, the three defeats being among our poorer performances of the season.

Paul Hartley says that is something he wants to rectify:

“Our levels have to be better; we will certainly need an improved showing compared to the last three games against them, and I expect to get that from the boys.

“We got a helping hand midweek when Edinburgh City beat Montrose, and to be honest, I wasn’t surprised by that, as those are the kind of results you can get at this stage of the season when the pressure is on.

“Montrose kick-off at three o’clock on Saturday, so when we get underway, we will know how we stand, but that doesn’t really change anything. I’ve said all week that Alloa is a must-win game, and we really need to take the three points to give us a fighting chance over the last couple of matches.”

Captain, Mitch Megginson, faces a late fitness test, having missed the last three, and he is desperate not only to play, but to see the side recapture the form of earlier in the season:

“I have been getting treatment and have started to get back involved in training, so I am hoping to be available.

“It is disappointing to be in this position, but we only have ourselves to blame, and we have an opportunity to put things right in these last three games, starting with Alloa.

“You saw what happened to Montrose on Tuesday night, that’s exactly what this league is like, so there is still a chance for us to make the top four. That’s what we have been targeting since starting pre-season training last summer, and we are not going to go down without a fight.

“Win this one, and the situation looks very different. We would get a real lift, while the pressure would increase on the others, and you never know what might happen in the last couple of weeks.”

Arron Darge has enjoyed a fine debut season with the club and will again be a key player against Alloa. He admits the last couple of defeats have hurt, but says the players are now trying to be as positive and focused as possible:

“What has happened is in the past, you can’t let that affect you. We’ve still got plenty quality in the squad, despite the injuries, and we need to get back to playing the way we know we are capable of.

“I see it in training, I know it’s there; the frustration is we haven’t been able to show that on the pitch in recent weeks.

“We know the importance of the Alloa game, it’s huge, and we have to go out there, perform, and win it. You do look at the league table, the other fixtures, we’ve all been talking about it, but it’s on the pitch where it really matters, and we’re all fired-up to get the three points which would set us up for a dramatic finish to the season.”

Fraser Fyvie (thigh) and Matty Shiels (ankle) will both be missing and are unlikely to feature again this season. Balint Demus suffered a knock in training, but Nick Suman is fit again having recovered from his back injury.

Blair Yule looks set to return for the first time since the end of February while a late decision will be taken on Mitch Megginson’s availability.

Supporters are reminded that the game is a 5.30pm kick-off at Balmoral Stadium. Ticket information can be found HERE

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