Annan Athletic vs Alloa preview - Cox ruled out

Posted Wednesday, May 11, 2011 by PA

Annan Athletic striker David Cox will miss out against Alloa in the first leg of the semi-final due to a foot injury but boss Harry Cairney has an otherwise full-strength squad.

With both sides losing on the last league game of the season to drop a place in the table, it was not the tie that many fans were expecting.

Yet Black and Gold manager Cairney said: "It was not the tie that many people had predicted but we have done our homework but obviously the dimensions have changed as Allan Maitland is no longer in charge at Alloa.

"They will be looking for a positive reaction following that decision and it will be up to us to counter that."

Alloa's stand-in management team of Scott Walker and Brown Ferguson will both play against Annan.

However, full-back Ross Philp and defensive midfielder Mark Brown remain sidelined through injury, while Darren Smith is a doubt after suffering concussion against East Fife recently.

David McClune returns from a ban, but league rules prevent David Gormley from playing despite his loan deal with Elgin City expiring.

Walker said: "We took a very positive training session with the players on Monday and we have also learnt a fair bit about Annan and we are working on a plan to beat them.

"Brown and I are both looking to start the game but we are still working on the shape of the rest of the team."