It’s time for Rovers to kick on and muscle into play-off place

Oct 15 2008 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

PAUL MARTIN reckons the second quarter of the season will make or break his side’s play-off hopes.

The Albion Rovers boss is desperate for his players to produce positive results as well as entertaining performances.

The Cliftonhill part-timers currently lie seventh in the Third Division table with nine points, seven behind fourth-placed Cowdenbeath.

Martin believes the gap is too wide for this stage of the season and wants to begin closing the chasm at Forfar Athletic on Saturday.

“Our general play has been excellent and the performances against Stenhousemuir and Montrose in our last two games were fine,” he said.

“There has been a flow to our passing and a fluidness to our play and movement.

“But we need points. We are in the entertainment business but we also have to remember that we are in the points-gathering business as well.

“We are seven points off the play-offs and that is too big a gap at this moment.

“We need a positive second quarter so we can put ourselves in a position to challenge come Christmas time.

“It must be hard for our fans to watch the effort and commitment of our players every week and see that go unrewarded.

“I feel that we have been playing really well and what we need to do is turn these good performances into results.

“That may mean improving our concentration levels when it comes to defending and when we have chances to score.”

Rovers turned in their worst performance of the season against Forfar on the opening day of the league campaign, when they lost 3-1 at Cliftonhill.

“I thought we were awful that day, there is no other way of describing it,” added Martin.

“It was painful viewing but the level of improvement since then has been very good.

“We are hoping Forfar will come out and play. They have an attacking formation, as do we, so it should be an open game.”

Martin has been handed a boost with the news that crocked playmaker Bobby Barr is in line for a return next weekend.

The manager added: “He won’t be ready for Forfar but should be available for the Scottish Cup game at Berwick Rangers which is great.”

TEAM NEWS: Rovers had several players carrying knocks going into the international break but they should all recover in time for the visit to Station Park.