Match Preview: Cowdenbeath v Stirling Albion

There promises to be fireworks at Central Park on Saturday when Cowdenbeath face Stirling Albion at the earlier kick off time of 1.30pm.

The two sides last met at Central Park in May in a six goal thriller with both club's going onto win promotion to the First Division. Survival is the name of the game for both sides this campaign, the only two part-time in the league, so this match is particularly significant.

Jimmy Nicholl's team have the upperhand on the Forthbank side this season with a 3-1 win at Forthbank back in August but Nicholl has warned his squad that they will have to vastly improve on last weekend's second half performance.

"I was really disappointed with the second half performance against Partick Thistle - the first time I have been disappointed by the lads since I came here"', said Nicholl.

"I was satisfied with the position at half-time but was looking for more in the final third after the interval. But we were flat and the response to going a goal down was disappointing. We never really tested the keeper and the players are better than that.

"It was an opportunity missed but we will get ourselves sorted for Saturday. Stirling Albion have picked up since we last played them a look a very good team so we will need to be at our best. Ability wise we are good enough and I'm expecting a response from Saturday.

"We have taken one point from the last nine games so we need to start picking up points again."

David Hay returns from suspension and Nicholl has options open to him with a number of players pushing on the door for a starting place. Joe Mbu, John Armstrong, Kenny Adamson, Dene Droudge and Danny Mackay remain on the treatment table. On the plus side Mbu and Armstrong have made good progress and trained this week but it will be another couple of weeks before they are ready to return.

*Please note that segregation is not in place for this game 

Visit Kick Talk radio to hear a pre-match interview with Jimmy Nicholl and match analysis.