Cowdenbeath vs Partick preview - Trio out for Cowdenbeath

Posted Tuesday, February 15, 2011 by PA

Cowdenbeath will be without Mark Baxter, Danny Mackay and Dene Droudge as they look to end a disappointing run of five points from a possible 33 when Partick visit Central Park.

The Glasgow side are one of the four teams the Blue Brazil defeated when they started the season in fine style, and manager Jimmy Nicholl knows what his men must do to get back to that success.

Nicholl said: "We have to make teams work hard for goals against us.

"At the moment it is far too easy and we are being punished for the same errors every week. Thistle have picked up since we beat them so we have to go about our business in a much stronger fashion."

Partick will have goalkeeper Scott Fox available for the clash after a virus kept him out at the weekend.

However, defenders Willie Kinniburgh and Jackie McNamara have now been affected and will miss out on the trip.

Paul Paton and Chris Erskine should return as, like Fox, they have beaten the bug.

Firhill assistant boss Ian Maxwell said: "All the players seem to have been affected at one time or another over the past week so we have been down to the bare bones in training.

"We did well against Queen of the South until a late lapse cost us points. However, Cowdenbeath beat us at their place before and that is the motivation we need to go out and grab three points."