Binos aim to dim the Red Lichties

Aug 27 2008

BINOS AIM TO DIM THE RED LICHTIES

STIRLING Albion head for Arbroath on Saturday hoping an impressive comeback against leaders Ayr United can spur them on to a first win of 2008-09.

Goals from Nathan Taggart and Ian Harty’s penalty earned Albion a 2-2 draw at Forthbank after Bryan Prunty had put the visitors 2-0 ahead inside 12 minutes.

Alloa are the only other team in Division Two yet to record a victory but Allan Moore will be confident Stirling can end their barren run against a side who dumped them out of the Co-operative Insurance Cup earlier this month.

Arbroath’s reward for that 3-2 success is a home tie against Inverness CT tonight (Wednesday) then John McGlashan’s men are looking to get back on track in the league after losing out 1-0 to a late East Fife goal on Saturday.

The Red Lichties were very impressive when they edged that thrilling cup clash with the Binos on August 6 and Stirling have a terrible recent record at Gayfield. They last won there almost exactly 10 years ago when John Hendry (twice) and Alex Bone scored late on in a 3-0 victory. This weekend’s game will be handled by experienced referee Brian Winter.

There were plenty of positives against Ayr on Saturday, although Moore admits his side need to develop a meaner streak. He said: “We were 2-0 down through basic errors. Andy Graham should have done better with his header but even after that we should have closed the boy down. The second goal could have gone anywhere but unfortunately it went in the top corner.

Credit

“We have a lot of young boys in the team and they could have chucked it at 2-0 down. It’s to their credit that they battled back and we could have won it in the end. We should at least have been on level terms by half-time but that has been our problem – we have missed too many chances and sometimes our decision making in the final third has been poor.

“We are still building the confidence in the players and it would have taken a knock if we had lost. Ayr are at the top of the league so we have to take heart from our performance. If we keep playing like that we will pick up more points.”

Moore has urged the supporters to stick by the team during what has proved a tough introduction to life back in Division Two.

He said: “I was disappointed with the fans because they never really backed the team when we went behind. I think they forget what we have done at this club and giving the players stick when they are 2-0 down isn’t going to make them play any better.”

Meanwhile, the Albion boss believes new signing Mark Docherty can make a big impact at Forthbank and earn a move back to a higher level following his departure from St Mirren, while winger Nathan Taggart also impressed his boss with a stylish display.

He said: “Mark gives us a bit of dig, puts tackles in and links up well. I told him it would be a baptism of fire because he hasn’t played many games recently. Let’s not kid ourselves – he has come here to move on. Stevie Bell did it and David O’Brien did it and you expect players to push on in their careers.

Potential

“Nathan was outstanding against Ayr. If he plays to his potential he will rip teams apart in this division but we just need to get a final ball from him. He is unplayable when he is on form but he needs to learn where and when to dribble and when to release the ball.”

Stewart Devine’s absence from the squad at the weekend was due to a groin injury that will require to be assessed by a specialist and that could mean the left-sided player is out of action for several weeks at a crucial stage of the season.

Moore added: “Depending on the diagnosis Stewart could be out for a while. Martin Grehan has been struggling with a foot injury and I took him off at Stranraer last week because I felt he wasn’t working hard enough but he did well on the left of midfield. He wasn’t 100% fit but I phoned him before the game to see if he could play and he said yes - that is the sort of attitude we want.”

Ayr gaffer Brian Reid said: “At 2-0 up away from home we should maybe have killed the game off better than we did but it was always going to be dangerous when they got one back. I didn’t get a great view of the penalty but the referee gave it and there is nothing we can do.

“It’s a bit disappointing because we have not been losing many goals but we switched off a couple of times and were punished. On another day Bryan Prunty might have scored four but a point is not a bad result.”