Brechin City vs East Fife preview - Hibs pair back for Brechin

Posted Saturday, November 26, 2011 by PA

Brechin welcome back on-loan Hibernian duo Scott Smith and David Crawford to face East Fife.

Manager Jim Weir, who is without injured defender Gerry McLachlan, is an admirer of the Fifers.

He said: "East Fife are one of the top attacking sides in the Second Division. They excel in the middle to front areas of the pitch and their defenders are not too shabby either.

"We will need to be at our best to contain them and I really respect the way their manager sends them out to attack.

"It will be a difficult game but we won well against Dumbarton last week in the Scottish Cup after a disappointing run of results. That win gives us a good platform to build on in the league."

John Robertson will miss the match, as the East Fife boss has been laid low with flu.

His assistant Gordon Durie will be in charge and the former Rangers, Tottenham Hotspur and Scotland star has had to rule out Scott Dalziel and Craig Johnstone through injury, while Robert Sloan faces a fitness test.

Matthew Park returns after a knock and on-loan Scotland Under-21 goalkeeper Mark Ridgers available again after Hearts did not let him play in the Scottish Cup.

Manager Robertson said: "This is a tough game for us but I am sure the boys will do well. We were really good going forward against East Stirling last weekend and I looking forward to hearing that we were the same at Brechin."