East Fife vs Brechin City preview - Johnstone blow for Fifers

Posted Saturday, January 05, 2013 by PA

East Fife will be missing Craig Johnstone when they host Albion as the midfielder is starting a two-game ban after being dismissed against Arbroath in midweek.

Defender Darren McCormack is available after a one-game suspension, however striker Paul McManus is again missing through a knee injury.

The Fifers boss Billy Brown said: "Our last two games have shown that there is very little between the sides in this league.

"We have had a man sent off and gone down to single goal defeats against Forfar and Arbroath and no doubt going down to 10 men just changed things enough to make a difference.

"Albion Rovers may be bottom but there is not much between them and the majority of sides so cannot take anything for granted."

Bottom-of-the-table Albion again include Arthurlie Juniors striker Chris Dallas as a trialist in their squad as they travel looking for a second win of the season at New Bayview.

The Coatbridge side welcome back Christie Elliot from suspension and Jordan Halsman from illness, however Barry Russell is banned and central defensive pairing Mick O'Byrne and Kevin Green are both out injured.

Manager Todd Lumsden said: "We got our first win of the season against East Fife in a game where we came back from a goal down in the first minute.

"A repeat of that would be fantastic but we know it will not be easy as they won 3-0 at our place in a really disappointing game the next time we met."