19/12/24

Alloa Athletic (H) | Match Preview

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The side faces another crucial encounter this weekend as promotion rivals Alloa Athletic make the trip north.

Andy Graham’s team have lost just four times this season, but we ended their unbeaten run at the start of October with our 2-0 success at The Indodrill, and everyone at Cove is fired-up to add to that victory.

A win would ensure we remain heavily involved in the push for the title or playoffs and with the visitors sharing that goal, it looks likely to be another hard-fought ninety minutes.

Midfielder Connor Scully knows we are going to have a tough battle on our hands:

“Alloa have shown they’re a strong team again this season and it will be another difficult one, that’s for sure. Like last week against Kelty, it’s two evenly matched sides again, so we need to find a way and be better in the attacking third.”

With little between most of the teams in the division, manager Paul Hartley admits it can be difficult finding that something extra which might tip the game in our favour:

“It can be down to making your quality count, but it’s not easy trying to second guess what the opposition are likely to do. Line-ups are changing virtually every week. I’ll be trying to work out what Alloa are planning, and Andy will be doing the same with my side. We’re all the same, we’re all trying to find that edge in a highly competitive division.”

That is something Connor says the players are well aware of:

“I think you’re looking at maybe eight of the sides and there’s not much between them, it’s such a tight league, and I don’t see anyone running away with it. Every week you look at the results and you see that! What we hope to do is get a good run going and try to make sure we put the pressure on the other teams.”

We have won just two of our eight league games at Balmoral Stadium this season, losing four times, and Connor admits that has to improve:

“I was speaking earlier with the boys, and we all agreed our home record just isn’t good enough. It always used to be such a difficult ground for teams to come to, generally they went away with nothing, and that’s something we need to rectify.”

With just seven points separating seven teams in the battle for promotion, Paul believes the key is to make sure you remain in contention for as long as possible:

“You have to stay in the mix, there’s still half of the season left, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look at the league table. You need to see where you are, and you look to see what the games are every week, who might drop points.

“The main thing though is just concentrating on your own results, and these games, the head-to-heads are really important. Winning them gives you such a lift, and with it being the last home match of the year, we want to sign off on a positive note.”

Liam Parker remains sidelined, and Blair Yule has been struggling with an ankle infection, but despite a few minor knocks, there are no fresh injury concerns.

Supporters should buy their tickets in advance at the CRFC website.

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