AFTER what has been a traumatic start to their bid to regain their place in Ladbrokes League One, Cowdenbeath are facing a highly important few weeks.

The Blue Brazil face their last fixture of the first quarter this Saturday when Annan Athletic come to Central Park and after two successive home defeats Cowden really need a win.

But the thing is that the recent poor run, with only seven points from eight games has put the team in second bottom spot in League 2.

Manager Liam Fox has been bitterly disappointed with the way things have started but he feels that the players can turn things around over the next few months.

Mathematically the Blues are just five points from a play-off spot but as Mr Fox has made clear they need to produced a consistent run of performances and results.

Annan are five points in front of Cowden so a home this Saturday would greatly reduce the gap on them.

But one of the things that is not been lost on some fans is the fact that the gap on bottom club Edinburgh City is only three points and with the new pyramid system now in operation if Cowden were to finish bottom the Blues would face a play-off to stay in league football.

That is something that no one at the club expects to happen but as the manager makes plain, it is all about results and he is expecting his players to step up to the plate starting with this Saturday's game.

He said this week: "The lack of consistency has been a real disappointment to me in this opening phase of the season.

"There have been some good performances but not enough of them and it is time for things to change.

"The last two home performances have as I have said, been totally unacceptable and the players have been left in no uncertain that there has to be an improvement.

"Although it has not been the way we had hope to start the season we are still in a position to get back into the pack of clubs chasing current leaders Forfar Athletic and that is our aim."

He added: "Against Stirling Albion we lost the first goal again but we have over 80 minutes to get back in to the game but just did not pose them enough problems.

"That was a real concern and something that is simply not good enough.

"We have to be able to step our game up in these situations and turn matches around."

So Cowdenbeath face this Saturday an Annan side which has produced a mixed bag of results so far but are capable of producing telling performances home and away.

There are no big names in their team but a strong work ethic under manager Jim Chapman so there needs to be a much improved performance from Cowden to get the result to get the team back on the winning trail.