Third Division: Shire bidding to leapfrog Clyde

East Stirlingshire manager John Coughlin is hoping his side can leapfrog Clyde into eighth place tonight, while simultaneously overtaking last season’s tally of 24 points with 11 games of the campaign still to play.

The two strugglers meet at Ochilview this evening, with Coughlin saying: “We have improved as a side but you wouldn’t know it from our league position. A win would get us closer to other teams while also showing tangible progress.”

Coughlin will bring in Nathan Shepherd to replace Saturday’s match-winner Jordan Holt who has returned to St Mirren at the end of his loan spell, but skipper Kevin Turner and Scott Maxwell are struggling and Rhys Devlin and Philipp Zufle are out.

Clyde, who lost 4-1 at home to Rangers at the weekend, have a doubt over Ian Gray, while David Marsh and Kevin Nicol are again ruled out.

Broadwood manager Jim Duffy said: “The atmosphere will be very different to the Rangers game but we have a more realistic opportunity to pick up three points. The game with Shire is a much more even type of contest.”

Bottom side Stirling Albion have decided not to appeal the red card that defender Brian Allison received at Peterhead on Saturday so he will miss out against visitors Annan Athletic tonight. Albion have not been beaten in their last three games, while Annan, who crashed to defeat at home to Shire at the weekend, are still waiting for their first win under Jim Chapman. The Galabank manager said: “The players seem to be suffering from a lack of confidence and in the last couple of games when we have gone behind heads have gone down and we have lost our shape for a while.”

“There are good players here but we need to perhaps get ahead and hold that lead for a while. I am sure a win would give them the confidence needed to have strong run until the end of the season.”

Annan will be without Peter Watson and Graeme Ramage through injury, but David Murray could return after a dead leg.