McQuade adds to Fife problems

Posted Saturday, October 01, 2011 by PA

Bottom-of-the-table East Fife face Forfar without striker Paul McQuade.

McQuade is suffering from a thigh strain and his absence provides a headache for manager John Robertson, who is already sweating over the fitness of Craig Johnstone and Lloyd Young.

Robertson has urged his players to find a ruthless streak as they look to move from the foot of the Division Two table.

He said: "We have simply got to be more ruthless as we have dropped points in games that we should have won or at the very least drawn.

"I am not sure if it is a confidence issue with the players in that they start getting nervous about winning.

"But we have worked with them and hopefully we can get ahead against Forfar and score a second to kill them off."

Forfar boss Dick Campbell will have to do without a trio of players.

Craig Wilson, Greg Ross and Stephen Tulloch will all miss the trip, although utility man Iain Campbell could well return following an ankle injury to offset those losses.

Campbell said: "I was not at all happy with the result last weekend (when they were beaten 2-0 at home by Dumbarton) and I let the players know it at training.

"We looked like we were going to go on a decent run of results and they flopped badly so I am looking for much, much better against John Robertson's side.

"They are a better side than their league position indicates so we need to be up for it."