Alloa Athletic vs East Fife preview - Ferguson back for Athletic

Posted Saturday, March 05, 2011 by PA

Alloa host East Fife with long-term absentee Brown Ferguson included in Allan Maitland's squad for the first time this season following knee surgery last summer.

But defender Scott Walker is suspended and David McClune, Mark Brown, Andy Scott and Nathan Taggart are all ruled out through injury, with Maitland promoting Kenny O'Brien for the club's youth set-up to bolster numbers.

Maitland's men have slipped to sixth pace and he is determined that they fall no further.

Maitland said: "I do not want us to be involved in the dog-fight that will take place to avoid relegation.

"Defeating East Fife allows us to keep away from that and would also be pay back for a 4-1 defeat at their place."

East Fife boss John Robertson is without Steven Campbell, Robert Sloan, Scott Durie, Jim Hamilton and Ryan Wallace.

The New Bayview manager will again promote from the club's youth ranks and says that the shortage of bodies has made his job easier.

Robertson said: "When you are down to only 14 fit players and the boys that come in help you to win in midweek it is simply a case of the team picking itself.

"There are six teams battling it to avoid relegation so we will be going out for a win and three points as draws are not any use."