Cowdenbeath are the visitors to Glebe Park tomorrow in the first of two home games over the New Year.

City chairman David Birse said: "It is an important spell for us. Home matches against Cowdenbeath and Forfar Athletic give us an opportunity to strengthen the cushion between ourselves and the teams immediately behind us in the league ahead of some difficult games in January."

City will face the Blue Brazil twice in the space of a week as the league match tomorrow is followed by the Scottish Cup 3rd Round clash at Central Park on Saturday, January 6th.

Birse added: "We want to do well in both games, for while the league game can give us some breathing space in third place, the cup clash in important for the club financially.

"Progress to round four of the competition gives teams the chance of drawing a big tie, while there is extra cash for getting through each round."

Both sides will be high in confidence after recording resounding victories last week-end. City of course thumped Peterhead 4-1 at Balmoor while Cowdenbeath hammered Alloa for the second time this season, running out 5-2 winners.

How is this for a stat...in the last two matches between the sides at the Glebe, a staggering NINETEEN goals have been scored.

City last played Cowden at Glebe Park at start of season 2004/05, which they won 5-2 after extra time in the CIS Insurance Cup. The other high scoring affair between the two outfits occurred in 2002/03, when Cowdenbeath came out on top in a 12 goal thriller, winning 7-5.

Down at Central Park back in August, City halted Cowdenbeath's goal-scoring spree with a 3-1 victory. Paddy Connolly (2) and Grant Johnson were the scorers for City in what was an excellent result against a Cowden side who had started the season very well.

Scott Walker will be unavailable for the home side as he will be sidelined for several weeks with an ankle ligament injury. However, David White returns from suspension and John Ward should be fit in time to face his former club. City manager Michael O'Neill has no other fresh injury worries ahead of the match.

Cowdenbeath travel to Glebe Park without striker Pat Clarke, who is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season and Scott Dalziel is set to start. Both Gary Fusco and Morgaro Gomis will do late fitness tests to determine whether they can take part. Goalkeeper David Orr is still struggling with an arm injury so former City stopper David Hay is set to take his place between the sticks.