Stirling escape was too close for comfort, warns Jimmy Nicholl

Published on Monday 7 March 2011 16:09

Cowdenbeath may be heading into tonight's match with Dundee on the back of a thrilling 4-3 win at Stirling Albion on Saturday, where they came back from three goals down, but their manager Jimmy Nicholl does not want to see a repeat.

The Central Park manager said: "We gave away really bad goals against Stirling and I do not want the result to mask that. I got more satisfaction from our draw against Queen of the South recently than the Stirling game.

"Dundee are on a great run just now and my players must give it their all to see if they can repeat our win over them from earlier this season."

Former Rangers and Dundee player Bob Malcolm looks set to feature again as a trialist, but injuries may deny Joe Mbu and Lee Makel a place in Nicholl's side.

Dundee manager Barry Smith, who has earmarked youngster Kyle Benedictus for his first start of the season in place of suspended centre back Craig McKeown, said: "This will be a tough game and what happened down there the last time should be sufficient motivation for us to go out and win this one."

Dunfermline Athletic host Ross County, who are managed by their former boss Jimmy Calderwood, and the Fife club's present manager Jim McIntyre hopes his side can bounce back from a disappointing result on Saturday, when they lost 3-1 at home to Morton.

McIntyre said: "We must bounce back quickly. Ross County will be coming here boosted by beating Falkirk at the weekend and Jimmy will be out to win over one of his former sides."

He hopes that on-loan St Johnstone defender Kevin Rutkiewicz can be involved after missing out at the weekend, but the game looks to have come too soon for Neil McGregor.

Calderwood, who guided County to their first win in four months when they beat Falkirk, said: "We are travelling down to East End Park with a bit of confidence but we are still too low in the table for my liking and need a lot more points on board." County welcome back defender Jonny Flynn from suspension, but Darren McCormack and Steven Craig remain out with knocks.

Partick Thistle are out to end a run of six games without a win when they take on Queen of the South, but assistant manager Ian Maxwell said both sides are likely to struggle on the treacherous Firhill pitch.

Maxwell said: "Our surface is horrendous just now, but despite that we created chances against Dundee at the weekend and will look to do the same against Queen of the South."

Thistle striker Simon Donnelly again misses out through injury as does suspended defender Willie Kinniburgh, with Paul Cairney and Chris Erskine both facing fitness tests.

Queen of the South manager Kenny Brannigan has welcomed back Stephen McKenna to his side following a ban and he said: "It is a huge boost to have Stephen back.I need to change things about to freshen the side up and having Stephen available allows me to do that.

"The squad have put in a great shift but we need a win to get going again. This could be a war of attrition on a heavy pitch and hopefully the players can dig deep and get us through it."

Brannigan is again without the midfield duo of Paul Burns and Rocco Quinn.