Arbroath vs East Fife preview - Smokies duo return

Posted Saturday, March 03, 2012 by PA

Arbroath will need to put the disappointment of failing to take over the lead in the Second Division behind them against visitors East Fife and they look set to have Collin Samuel and Mark Baxter available after injury to help.

Josh Falkingham returns after missing the 2-2 draw with Airdrie in midweek through suspension, however Jordan Elfverson misses out again with a back injury.

Player-manager Paul Sheerin said: "It was a chance to get our noses in front but we will need to pick ourselves up.

"The dressing room was quiet afterwards but we are in a good place and should be positive about it against an East Fife side that may feel they have something to prove after John Robertson lost his job."

East Fife will be under the interim control of former Scotland striker Gordon Durie for the first time following Robertson's dismissal and they will be missing the injured Paul McQuade.

John Ovenstone and Scott Durie are in with a good chance of returning after knocks.

"It is never nice when these things happen in football but it is important to concentrate on the players and the jobs they have to do," said Gordon Durie.

"We have played Arbroath a couple of times already this season and probably deserved to get more than the draw we got in January. We will be going there looking to do well and keeping ourselves in the top half of the table."