Binos are seeking revenge at Brechin

Jan 30 2009

STIRLING Albion head for Brechin tomorrow (Saturday) looking for the victory that will lift them into the play-offs for the first time this season.

Allan Moore’s men thrashed Stranraer 8-2 at Stair Park last weekend and go to Glebe Park on the back of four successive victories and five in the last six outings, the only blip being a 3-0 pre-Christmas loss to Queen’s Park.

City are the only top-six side to have beaten the Binos this term. They won 2-1 on the opening day when Stirling paid the price for a stack of missed chances then triumphed by the same score at Forthbank in October.

Jim Duffy has since replaced Michael O’Neill – who left to take charge of Shamrock Rovers – as Brechin boss and he is looking for the club’s first win of 2009. It almost came on Saturday but Peterhead grabbed a late leveller in a 1-1 draw.

Albion are in great form but Brechin have lost only once at home in Division Two this season – 1-0 to Ayr on December 30 – and a draw would hardly be a disaster in what is a key weekend in the play-off race as East Fife are up against Peterhead.

Moore said: “It’s a big game and our recent results have given us a chance of making the play-offs. It’s important that we keep our run going and the place is buzzing at the moment but in this league it’s down to how you perform on the day.

“I’ve said before that we don’t fear anyone and there is not much between most of the teams. People have said Brechin’s pitch can be a bit heavy at this time of year but I don’t see that being a problem as our players are as fit as anyone. They have got some good players but hopefully we can get a result.”

Albion are likely to name an unchanged team for the trip north, with Ross Forsyth serving the second of a three-match ban and winger Nathan Taggart still well short of fitness because of a back problem that requires rest. Liam Corr is available after serving a one-match suspension due to a red card in an U19 fixture.

That means David Lowing will continue at left-back and teenage midfielder Ryan McCord will have to settle for a place on the bench as his loan spell from Dundee United nears an end.

Moore added: “Ryan understands the situation because I don’t want to change a winning team. He knows he will get a chance as a substitute and that might suit him because he played 70 minutes of a friendly against Bathgate in midweek and was pretty tired when he came off.

“He is a quality player and we would like to keep him for longer. Some of his play when he came on at Stranraer was a joy to watch and I’ll be speaking to Craig Levein to see what we can do. Ryan is enjoying it and is keen to stay but I’ve a feeling they might want him back.”

Albion won the Bathgate bounce match 3-2 at Forthbank, with young strikers Steven Waddell (2) and Jonny Boyle on target. It was a largely youthful Albion line-up but Myles Hogarth and Andy Lawrie were also involved.

The Binos boss is still keen to sign a striker but has been thwarted in his efforts thus far, although the transfer window remains open until 5pm on Monday due to the fact January 31 falls on a Saturday. Moore has inquired about Morton frontman Iain Russell and Mark Roberts at Partick but nothing has happened so far.

Moore has turned the team around in the last couple of months and it would be another massive step if victory was achieved tomorrow.