East Fife are preparing to make the long trip to Stranraer knowing what a fifth league defeat in six would mean to their League One standing.
The Methil side’s solitary victory so far over Arbroath has been enough to keep them off bottom spot, but failure to take something from Stair Park this weekend would see tomorrow’s hosts jump above the Fifers in the table.
Such is the tight nature of League One this season, two wins would see them flirting with play-off spots at the right end of the division, but boss Willie Aitchison is focused on trying to stop the Fifers’ current slump so they do not get cast adrift at the wrong end.
Aitchison was “angry and frustrated” at the manner of their 3-1 loss at home to Forfar last weekend and has left the players in no doubt that they must start picking up points soon.
“It’s all very well and good saying guys are doing well but we’re dropping points needlessly, I think,” he said.
“Myself and Robbie (Neilson) spoke to them about the severity of the kind of problem they are going to cause if they keep doing that, so we might have to just change things about this week.
“Maybe we have to stop being so nice with the football and maybe be a wee bit more ruthless in certain areas.”
Meanwhile, the club revealed that at least 30 Wolves fans have taken out hospitality packages at Bayview for a game in November after being impressed with the set-up when the two teams met in a pre-season friendly.