COWDENBEATH’S players can put the frustrations of recent league games to the back of their minds this Saturday when they take on League 2 strugglers Spartans at Ainslie Park in round two of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup.

After a difficult time at East Kilbride last midweek, Cowden looked to be in charge of their Lowland League match with Boness United at the weekend, only to lose two avoidable goals which gave the seventh top West Lothian side the points.

But this Saturday can look to give a Spartans side, which have found points hard to come by this season in League 2, a hard time.

Manager Dougie Hill was very frustrated to by what he saw happen against United and he is wanting his side to respond by producing a good show against the former Lowland League team which is in their second season in League 2.

“I felt in the first-half we were producing some good play, scored a well taken goal, and perhaps could well have had another," he said.

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“We opened the second-half positively but then allowed ourselves to be caught out at a corner-kick, where a Boness striker was left unmarked, then soon after we gave the ball away after a Boness move had been broken up, which allowed the player time to send a shot high into the net. It was a good finish but the situation should not have occurred.

“We keep shooting ourselves in the foot in games and we have to work hard at maintaining concentration levels to stop these things happening.”

And he is fully aware that at Spartans his players must produce their best form against a side who have managed a point a game from their opening 10 League 2 games.

“It will be a tough match but if we can avoid losing goals at set pieces we can create the chances to pose Spartans problems and that has to be our aim,” he said, adding, ”Hopefully our experienced midfielder, Danny Swanson will be back for this one after a few weeks out of action.”

Also featuring will be skipper, Robbie McNab, who played against Boness, for the first time in some weeks, after seriously injuring his wrist and the manager wants him in action this week at Spartans.

“Robbie has shown his commitment to the club as he awaits an operation on his wrist by wanting to play while waiting for surgery," said Hill.

“Against Boness he showed his commitment and he wants to do his best for Cowdenbeath over the next few weeks before his op.”