Binos look to do the double over Gers

Dec 5 2012 by David Ogilvie, Stirling Observer

Stirling Albion manager Greig McDonald insists the daunting prospect of playing in front of 50,000 fans at a packed Ibrox won’t stop his side going for a unique double over Rangers.

Albion recorded one of the best results in their history on October 6 at Forthbank when Brian Allison’s early goal stunned Ally McCoist’s men but Rangers have found their feet after a slow start.

Rangers recently thrashed Alloa 7-0 in the Scottish Cup and progressed to the last 16 with a 3-0 win over Elgin on Sunday. The have a 100 per cent home league record, while Albion have picked up just a single point on their travels and have not kept a clean sheet on the road since January.

It will be the Binos’ first visit to Ibrox for a league match since a 5-0 defeat in March 1968 and Saturday’s Third Division clash will also see a host of Rangers legends appearing to help the club celebrate their 140th anniversary.

Stirling go into the game five points adrift of East Stirlingshire at the foot of the table but Binos boss Greig McDonald — who missed that famous 1-0 earlier in the season because he was getting married — insists they are not going to Glasgow simply to make up the numbers.

He said: “People will obviously be writing us off but we have already beaten Rangers — just because you are surrounded by 48,000 fans, it’s still a game of football.

“I know they are celebrating their 140th anniversary and they will be hoping to put on a show but we are aiming to spoil the party.

“The guys are going to have to put in a massive effort — probably even more than they did at Forthbank — but we are up for it. It’s a great occasion for our young lads to play in front of a huge crowd against top players.

“I’d like to be the first team to do the double over them. I’m sure Rangers will be eager to even the score but we need to get points because we should be fighting for the top four rather than sitting at the bottom of the league.”

Meanwhile, the match against East Stirlingshire at Forthbank, postponed at the weekend due to a frozen pitch, has been rearranged for Tuesday December 11, with a 7.45pm kick-off.

●Tickets for Saturday’s game against Rangers at Ibrox will be on sale all this week at the SAFC club office. Prices are £17 for adults, £13 concessions and £5 for children U16.

●Albion’s home game against Rangers on Saturday February 2 will require to be rescheduled after Ally McCoist’s side reached the fifth round of the Scottish Cup at the weekend.