Showdown
IT'S a Super League showdown in Dundee tomorrow when second top Linlithgow Rose take on league leaders Lochee United.
And for the first time this season, Jim Sinnet's men are not favourites to win.
There's so much at stake tomorrow, it doesn't bear thinking about. The Rose dare not let Lochee get any further away from them at the top, especially as they could only draw one of the games they had in hand over the Tayside team.
Last weekend's 2-2 draw at Arniston means the Rose have now gone 15 matches without defeat. But they have been riding their luck lately and will require a massive upturn in fortunes if they are to topple what has been a very impressive team ever since they arrived in the Super League.
Once again, the Rose find themselves up against a team whom they have yet to beat but that was the same scenario when Glenrothes arrived at Linlithgow a few short weeks ago — and the Rose recorded their first Super League victory over the Fifers.
Arniston and Lochee are the two other teams against whom the Rose have still to collect full points so it would be a nice Christmas bonus if they do the business on Saturday.
Lochee are on an impressive unbeaten run of their own — but they are not unbeatable as many would suggest. Indeed just last Saturday they needed a penalty shoot-out to dispose of Fife district league side Newburgh.
But it's their Super League form which is more important. Like the Rose, they have only lost two and that was against Tayport at the Canniepairt back on September 11 and 2-3 at home to Bonnyrigg Rose a week earlier.
That followed two draws with Bathgate Thistle (2-2) and Glenrothes (0-0).
Since then they have beaten Bonnyrigg (2-3), Bathgate (1-2), Bo'ness (0-2), Thornton (3-1), Oakley (4-2) and Camelon (3-1).
Said Rose boss Jim Sinnnet: "We must take something out of the Lochee game for if we don't, then it will be a big ask for us to try and retain the championship.
''They know how vital it is too, of course, and at training this week, they'll be talking about nothing else but beating us because if they do, they will take some catching."
He added: "It's a big, big game but every one is a big game for us because everyone wants to beat us whether it's a Second Division team scrubbing along at the bottom of their league or the Super League leaders.''
He's toying with the idea of starting Gordon Herd in Dundee despite Flannery's strike partner nursing an injury which flared up again after his 25 minute run at Arniston.
Said the manager: "He has a strained muscle above the groin and on a heavy pitch at Arniston, I didn't want to risk him playing and causing further damage but I had to throw him on.
''I'll probably risk him at Lochee for after that we have a break and it will give Gordon, Mark Whyte and others with niggles a chance to rest up."
He reckoned the draw at Arniston was probably about right though the manner in which it arrived was a bit different. He said: "I thought Lee Dair was superb but I was disappointed with the midfield and the wide men. Paddy Flannery started off well then like the rest of the team, got bogged down in a physical battle. He'll have to watch himself because with 19 goals to his credit, his reputation goes before him."
If things go wrong, the manager can always chuck on big Steve Maley as his secret weapon but it would be a bonus indeed if the big fella could repeat the havoc he wreaked at Arniston. But he went past defenders surprisingly easy so maybe he isn't a one-off.
The Lochee strings will again be pulled by Ray McKinnon who is very much in Scotland manager Jim O'Donnell's plans although he didn't play at all the last time Lochee met the Rose and, since then, they have recruited former Aberdeen and Hibs long-range expert Andy Dow.
But Kris Ward is the man who has been banging in the goals and the Rose know full well that there is a lot of pace in the Lochee team — something the Rose appear to be short on just now.
This will be the final match of the year as all clubs have Christmas and New Year off. Jim Sinnet toyed with the idea of trying to persuade Hill of Beath to come to Linlithgow on January 3 for a Fife-Lothians Cup tie but might try for a friendly instead.
The next competitive game will be at Bathgate Thistle on Saturday, January 7.
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Weather for Queensferry
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
