Alloa Athletic vs Peterhead preview - Sheran starts Blue Toon reign against depleted Alloa

Posted Saturday, March 26, 2011 by PA

Allan Maitland could be without as many as eight players as his Alloa side provide the first test for new Peterhead boss John Sheran.

Maitland is targeting a win that would ease the Wasps` relegation fears but Darren Smith, Bryan Prunty, Ross Philp, Mark Brown and James Bloom have all already been ruled out.

Alloa could also go into battle without Nathan Taggart, Brown Ferguson, and Andy Scott who all face fitness tests.

On a positive note, Billy Gibson and Kevin Motion are available after suspension while Maitland has bolstered his squad with the addition of Hamilton midfielder Scott Pitman on loan. Fraser Forrest is in line for his third and final game as a trialist.

Maitland said: "It is far from ideal, however we will just have to get on with things."

New Peterhead boss Sheran has concerns over Daniel Moore ahead of his first game in charge in what is a real relegation scrap at Recreation Park.

Left-sided defender Moore is a doubt for the clash but everyone else in the Balmoor squad is available to the former Montrose and Cove Rangers boss.

And Sheran is not going into the clash blind, saying: "I have been out of football for 20 months but I have talked to a fair number of contacts this week about Alloa.

"Like ourselves they are going through a bad run and will see this game as an opportunity to end it.

"It has been a bit of a whirlwind week for me but I saw Peterhead play on Tuesday night and saw enough to suggest we can get back to enjoying our football again."