Posted September 4, 2015

We are on the road for the second successive week on Saturday when we face Airdrie at the Excelsior Stadium with a 3 p.m. kick off in week 5 of Ladbrokes League 1.

 

This will be our first visit to Airdrie since 2nd January 2013 when the sides fought out a 1-1 draw in a First Division clash when an early opener from Dean Brett was cancelled out by Ryan Donnelly in the second half.

 

Our recent record against the Diamonds is a good one and we are currently on an eight game unbeaten run against them with four wins and four draws with our last defeat coming in a Challenge Cup Quarter Final tie back in September 2008 when we went down 2-1 at Central Park.

 

Our last defeat at the Excelsior was the previous April when we went down 4-0.

 

After the disappointing showing in last weeks 4-2 defeat at Stenhousemuir Colin Nish will be looking to get our season back on track and hopefully start a climb up the league table.

 

On the team front Craig Johnston returns to the squad after serving his two game suspension but captain John Armstrong starts a two game ban after being sent off at Ochilview last Saturday.

 

New loan Ranger Andy Murdoch will come in after his midweek signing while young Jamie Sneddon is likely to make his first start in goals after the departure of Michael Andrews.

 

Airdrie have former Central Parker Jordan Morton in their side although another former Cowden man Bryan Gilfillan left the Diamonds last weekend.

 

COWDEN FORM

 

We go into Saturday's game with one win in our opening four league games, against Airdrie's neighbours Albion Rovers who we beat 1-0 at Central Park a fortnight ago. On the road we have lost at Dunfermline (1-7) and Stenhousemuir (2-4).

 

AIRDRIE FORM

 

Airdrie sit two places and three points above us in the table with two wins from their four games. Their wins came against Brechin (2-1) at Glebe Park and last week at home to Peterhead (1-0). Their two defeats came at home to Forfar (0-1) and away to Stenhousemuir (1-2).

 

In the League Cup after beating Stirling Albion 1-0 at Forthbank they went down 5-0 at home to Rangers while in the Petrofac Training Cup they lost 3-1 at Annan.

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

 

REFEREE: Mr Colin Steven ASSISTANT REFEREES: Mr Stuart Hodge & Mr Ross Allan.

 

Last week saw Mr Steven take charge of the Ladbrokes League 2 clash between Annan and Montrose. He kicked off his season at Brechin v Peterhead in the Petrofac Training Cup and was also man in the middle at Forfar v Albion Rovers.

 

He has also been fourth official at three Ladbrokes Premiership matches - Hamilton v Partick, St Johnstone v Inverness and Hearts v Partick.

 

ADMISSION

 

ADULTS -£16

 

CONCESSIONS - £10

 

UNDER 16 - £7

 

PARENT & CHILD - £20

 

Previewer: Andrew Mullen.