McLaren calls on critics to get behind struggling Greenock

GREENOCK captain Kevin McLaren has called on the club's members to rally round the team as they aim to bounce back from last week's humbling by Forfarshire when they head to Dunfermline Knights in the SNCL Premier Division tomorrow.

The Glenpark outfit suffered a 201-run home defeat to the Forthill men –being bowled out for just 47 – to leave the 2007 champions bottom. Many members have made their disappointment known, but McLaren has asked them to stick with the players as the rebuilding process continues.

He said: "I was quite angry with some of the reactions last week. Yes, we lost by a big margin and we were disappointed, but given our bowling options I thought the guys did well to restrict Forfarshire to 248 and it was our best fielding display of the summer.

"We then got rolled over when we were batting, but this can happen to any team and their pro Kelby Pickering was on top form. We still have a good team spirit and we are working hard for each other and hopefully that will start to take us in the right direction."

Tomorrow McLaren has in-form Scotland man Richie Berrington back in for Shailesh Prabhu who has broken his hand, while Kieran Begley replaces the unavailable Dougie Wylie.

The Knights look set to make minimal changes for the McKane Park clash as they strive to bounce back from last week's defeat to Clydesdale.

Grange's big guns return as the Edinburgh side prepare to head north to Mannofield to take on Aberdeenshire.

Neil McCallum and Gregor Maiden are back for the leaders after Scotland duties, while Simon Smith will keep wicket in place of Chris Murphy. Merchiston Castle pupil Oli Hairs will open the batting having smashed 140 off 66 balls under the noses of the international selectors for a Saltires select in a charity match on Thursday, just five days after a league ton.

Aberdeenshire had a good victory over McCrea FS West last weekend, but with Colin Smith, Iain Brand and Shaun Coetzer unavailable captain Neil MacRae will make a late call on the make-up of his side.

Watsonians skipper Steve Paige has resisted the chance to recall seamer Raj Routray as they head to McCrea FS West looking for their fifth league win on the spin.

Routray is available again after university commitments, but will play for the second XI this weekend as left-armer Mike Legget keeps his place in the top team. Dougie Lockhart is set to return for the hosts who sit second bottom, while Scotland team-mate Gordon Goudie's involvement is doubtful with the seamer struggling with a hamstring problem.

Third placed Forfarshire replace Dean Fearn with Scotland's Matthew Parker as they welcome Clydesdale to Forthill looking for their sixth win of an impressive campaign.

That is the only change from last week's thumping of Greenock, while Clydesdale have Qasim Sheikh back as they aim to build on last weekend's league and cup victories over Dunfermline and Carlton respectively.

Sheikh will probably feel he has a point to prove after being dropped by Scotland for today's one-day international with England after playing in the match against the Netherlands on Tuesday.

Carlton head to Uddingston showing four changes from the side that lost out to Watsonians by just two runs last week. Scotland trio Preston Mommsen, Gordon Drummond and Ross Lyons return with wicketkeeper Jamie Kerr also back from holiday to replace young Fraser Boyd.

Uddingston had a superb two days last weekend, the amazing run chase at Grange followed by a Scottish Cup win at Edinburgh, and they will be keen to bring that form home to Bothwell Castle.