News

With just twelve matches remaining, and the side sitting in second place in the League One table, we face another crucial ninety minutes this weekend.

Dumbarton are our visitors, a fixture which always brings back memories of that memorable afternoon in April 2022 when we clinched promotion to the Championship, and with the team hoping for a similarly successful conclusion to this campaign, it has to be viewed as a must-win game.

We are on a seven match unbeaten run against Saturday’s opponents, but Paul Hartley admits they have caused us problems already this season:

“Up here, they scored in the last minute to get a draw, and we had a really tough first forty-five minutes down there when Bal (Balint Demus) kept us in it with a lot of really good saves. Second half, we changed the style, went more direct, and took our opportunities.”

That has been a key aspect this time round, the team has generally taken its chances, and Cove are top scorers in the division:

“The good thing is we’re sharing the goals out, you can’t rely on Megginson all the time, and we’re getting a return from midfield and the other front players.”

There has been a major contribution in recent weeks from Findlay Marshall, the teenager scoring three times in two games, including wonder-strikes against both Montrose and Annan. Paul has been delighted with his form:

“I had actually said to him the other week I felt there were more goals in him, he strikes the ball so well with both feet, and he should be really pleased with how he has been playing. I ask my midfielders to target 8-10 goals a season, and he’s definitely getting there.”

The team has lost just once in nine league games since the 3-0 defeat at the hands of Stenhousemuir at the start of December, conceding only six goals during that run, another satisfying return for the manager:

“They’ve been great! We’ve had to play boys out of position, Doyle and Darge have done really well, two full-backs in central defence, and we’ve looked solid in most games. Liam Parker is back, but he missed four months, so we’re having to be careful with him.”

“We have suffered with injuries to key players, and we have a small squad in any case, so I think it’s remarkable what the boys have done. Last Saturday, we had three outfield substitutes, and two were centre-halves, so they all deserve great credit for what they have done so far.

“Now, we need to keep that going. Their appetite, their work-rate, is top class, and that starts in training. As a group, they are a pleasure to coach, a pleasure to work with, and I’ve got every faith in them to meet the challenge we face.

“I always thought February was going to be a crucial month with four home games. We’ve got one left, take care of that and we will be in a strong position.”

Will Gillingham will again be absent while Mitch Megginson and Fraser Fyvie, who both missed the win over Annan, will be monitored up until kick-off.

A big, noisy home support would make all the difference to the players; get your tickets in advance at this LINK

Article Copyright © 2025. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and to www.coverangersfc.com

Advertise Your Business HERE! »