New striker is Reds' priority

Dec 3 2008 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

STIRLING Albion manager Allan Moore is keen to bring a striker to the club in January after watching his side go out of the Scottish Cup.

The Binos went down 3-2 to Partick Thistle at Forthbank on Saturday despite creating a hatful of chances and Moore is growing frustrated at Albion’s inability to make the most of their opportunities.

On several occasions this season, Albion have carved out enough chances to have taken three points but a return of just three wins and seven draws from 15 Division Two games leaves them six points short of the play-offs.

Part of the reason for that is the leakiest defence of any of the top seven clubs but the lack of a recognised goalscorer is also proving costly and was their undoing at the weekend when First Division Thistle should have been beaten.

Instead it was Ian McCall’s men who drew Inverness CT in the fourth round, although it is simplistic to say Albion would have faced Craig Brewster’s team as the clubs went into the hat in alphabetical order.

Stirling’s next test is at home to a Raith Rovers outfit who are ahead of Brechin on goal difference at the top of Division Two and who are unbeaten since losing at Glebe Park at the end of September.

Moore said: “We need to start winning league games and I think we have to look for a striker in the transfer window because that could be the difference between getting to the play-offs and not getting to the play-offs.

“The teams above us have strikers who are putting the ball in the net. If David McKenna had scored his goals on Saturday he would have been the best player on the park by a mile because his touch and control were great and his work-rate was excellent, but he gets paid to put the ball in the net.”

The halfway stage in Division Two will be reached when Stirling entertain Queen’s Park on December 20 and the statistics highlight Albion’s lack of a killer instinct.

In years gone by, Moore has been able to call on the likes of Scott McLean, Colin Cramb and Paddy Connolly.

Don’t forget, however, that midfielder Chris Aitken was the club’s leading marksman with an impressive 13 Division One goals in 2007-08.

This time round, midfielder John O’Neill is the top scorer with just four league goals. Of the strikers, Ian Harty and Martin Grehan have netted three apiece and youngster Steven Waddell is yet to get off the mark.

Reflecting on the cup tie with Partick, Moore said: “I’ve got to say it, we battered them. Even in the first half we were the better team but the reason we are out the cup is that Thistle took their chances.

“The first two goals we lost were farcical. The first one was a free header from a corner that led to the goal and the second was terrible defending by David Lowing to concede the penalty. We said to the players at half-time that we had a wee chance if we got the next goal and it was one-way traffic in the second half.

“David McKenna was gutted after missing his chances but he has to take on board what John O’Neill was saying and that was to put your foot through the ball. The only time he did was at the end and he nearly knocked the keeper over.

“It’s very sore to be out of the cup and I’m disappointed for the chairman because financially it was important to be in the next round. We can take some positives from the way we dominated for long spells.”

Meanwhile, Firhill gaffer McCall was relieved to have avoided an early exit: “The whole second half was difficult and with seven players out we are pleased just to be in the next round. Stirling showed a lot of spirit and it was a very hard game.”

Albion now resume league business against a Raith side who they almost beat at Stark’s Park but had to settle for a 1-1 draw after missing a last-minute penalty than allowing Rovers to level from the spot in injury time.

The club’s injury crisis shows little sign of easing and Moore said: “Andy Graham will be out for a few weeks with a calf injury but Kevin Ross did well when he came on. He can be a bit rash but he has got pace.

“Liam Corr has got four stitches in his knee so we are down to the bare bones. We hope John O’Neill will be back for Raith but we are not sure about Nathan Taggart, who has a back problem.”

Raith were held 0-0 by Alloa in their Scottish Cup tie on Saturday but have won their last three away matches by a 2-0 margin and Stirling will have their work cut out as they seek to close the gap on fourth-placed Peterhead.