Cowdenbeath boss Jimmy Nicholl has made it crystal clear to his players they need to start picking up points soon and stressed that today’s visit of Livingston is the perfect time to do so.
Last week’s 2-1 reversal at Raith Rovers kept the Blue Brazil rock bottom of the Championship, but three points at Central Park this afternoon would be enough to lift them off the foot of the table at the expense of this afternoon’s visitors.
Nicholl is well aware of that fact, and knows just what a third win of the season could do for his team’s confidence.
“It seems to be at the moment that if we concede one we’re likely to concede another, and that’s the disappointing thing at the minute,” he said.
“I couldn’t fault the lads for their commitment and their effort against Raith, but at the end of the day it’s another three points that’s escaped us.
“It’s been difficult times recently against Hibs and Rangers, and we knew the game against Raith would be equally as difficult as they were determined to get the three points to stop the run they had been on.
“But the fact is that we need to start winning games.
“We need to get ourselves off the bottom and I’ll be really concerned if we don’t beat Livingston because the commitment they showed under the circumstances last week and the quality of football they showed against Raith was good.
“I expect us to start getting a wee run together to get us off the bottom.”
On loan Rangers striker Calum Gallagher suffered concussion in last week’s derby and will be assessed before today’s game, although 19-year-old on loan St Mirren midfielder Declan Hughes has been given the go ahead to return after an ankle injury.
However, Jon Robertson, Nat Wedderburn, Dean Brett and Craig Sutherland are all struggling with injuries and may be sidelined alongside long-term absentees Kenny Adamson, Sammy Stewart, John Armstrong and Liam Callaghan.