Battling Binos praised by boss

Feb 4 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

STIRLING Albion boss Allan Moore heaped praise on his players after they made it five wins on the trot to beat Brechin 2-1 at Glebe Park and move into third place.

Goals from Martin Grehan and defender Andy Graham earned victory over a City side who had defeated the Binos twice in 2008/09 and who were level for a spell after a fine equaliser from Richard Walker.

Graham, who headed the winner on the hour mark, said: “It was a great ball in from Stewart Devine and I just had to get a touch on it. It’s my third goal of the season which is nice but the whole team worked their socks off and we want to keep the run going.”

A few weeks ago the play-offs seemed like a distant ambition but a haul of 18 points out of 21 – a sequence that began with a 1-0 win at East Fife on December 13 - has seen Stirling rise above Peterhead, the Fifers and Brechin.

Albion were due to entertain East Fife in a crucial game on Saturday but that match has been postponed as Dave Baikie’s men are on Scottish Cup duty at Aberdeen so the Reds’ next match is away to leaders Raith on February 21. Albion end the month with a home game against Arbroath.

Delighted boss Moore – who has completed the signing of striker Michael Mullen from Stranraer for a nominal fee - hailed his side’s determination to dig out another victory on a surface more suited to planting potatoes.

He said: “The pitch wasn’t conducive to good football but we battled away and that is what we have been doing in recent weeks. It looks like Martin Grehan has hit form at the right time and he put us ahead early on.

“It could have gone either way in the first half because there were chances at both ends but after we went 2-1 up we looked pretty tidy and Craig Nelson pulled off a couple of great saves to keep them in it.

“We played some good stuff and we always like to pass the ball if we can. Earlier in the season our problem was that we were passing it in the wrong areas and that was costing us goals.

“It was a real team effort. Scott Christie made a great save when we were 2-1 up and the defence also played well. We are looking good and we have competition for places. It’s funny how quickly things change because it’s only a few weeks ago that we lost 3-0 at home to Queen’s Park and we were getting dog’s abuse.

“We have almost everyone available now. Ross Forsyth is suspended and Nathan Taggart still out injured but the lads know they have to go out there and fight for their places. It’s taken a few months to get the team together.”

Earlier in the campaign, missed chances hindered Albion’s progress but David McKenna and Grehan have formed an impressive front pairing and the addition of Mullen provides further options for the Albion boss.

Mullen has signed until the end of next season after scoring 24 goals in 87 appearances for Stranraer, the last of which came in the 8-2 defeat by Stirling at Stair Park – a game in which Mullen scored a fine goal for the Blues.

Moore, who beat off competition from Brechin to land the ex-Queen of the South player, said: “We didn’t get his papers through in time for the Brechin game but he will add to us up front. He is a good, strong runner who gets in behind people and scores goals.”

It has also been confirmed that Falkirk defender Scott Gibb will remain on loan with Stirling until the end of the season. Gibb has been outstanding since joining in mid-November and has formed a solid partnership with Sean Roycroft, although one more yellow card is likely to see him suspended.

Meanwhile, Brechin gaffer Jim Duffy felt his team were unfortunate to take nothing from the game as their disappointing run continued.

The ex-Dundee and Hibs boss said: “Considering the conditions, there was some tremendous football played from both teams, especially in the first half. I felt we played very well in an attacking sense and it’s disappointing to lose the match. Stirling’s set-pieces were excellent and that’s how their winning goal came about.

“Richard Walker scored a fantastic goal that was fit to grace any game but we need to be more resilient at the back. We also need to score more goals and I’ve brought in Rory McAllister from Inverness who I think will do a great job.”

With no game this Saturday, Albion will hope that close rivals Peterhead drop points at home to Arbroath and Brechin do likewise at Stranraer.