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The team’s search for a first league win of the season takes us to Clackmannanshire this weekend and a meeting with Alloa Athletic.

It is a fixture which has been evenly contested over the years, the fourteen previous encounters producing six wins apiece and two draws. After losing all four to Andy Graham’s team in 2023-24, we had the better of the exchanges last season, and will be keen to build on that at The Indodrill.

Alloa began the campaign on fire but have lost narrowly on each of their last two League One outings, and Paul Hartley hopes to add to their recent woes on Saturday:

“They’ve made a good start, Andy Graham has a strong squad, and we always expect a tough game down there, but we won the first one at Alloa last season and should also have beaten them in the second where we missed numerous chances.

“So, we can go there with confidence, and if the players perform and keep their focus, we can get the result that could have a big bearing on our situation. Getting that first victory would give the players so much more confidence.”

While the manager will still be without some big players, he can at least look forward to the return from illness of midfielder Blair Yule:

“That’s a positive, he came back on Tuesday night and did some training, and his experience will be welcome. We need that, we’ve got quite a young team and they need that know-how alongside them.

“Declan Glass will still be out, so will Arron Darge, but I’m hoping he might be back for next week.”

Given the turbulent nature of the start to the campaign, has this been as tough a time as Paul has experienced as Cove Rangers manager?

“I would think so, in terms of the injuries to key players and the problems with team selection, and not having a big squad to start with. It’s not been easy, and when you’re not winning that makes it more difficult.

“We’re in a bit of a sticky situation, but we need to maintain the belief and focus. We’re all in it together, we spoke after the Inverness game and during the week, and it’s a united group; we all know that one result can quickly turn things round.

“We didn’t have the best start last season and look where we finished.”

Fans travelling down to Alloa on Saturday should note the following information:

Cove Rangers supporters can purchase their tickets in advance at THIS LINK There will also be a cash gate in operation on the day. Parking is available on Hilton Road, to the rear of KFC, and on nearby streets.

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