Fearless Binos target leaders

Feb 20 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

STIRLING Albion boss Allan Moore is hoping the prolonged lay-off doesn’t hamper his side’s fine run of form when they face leaders Raith at Stark’s Park tomorrow (Saturday).

Albion haven’t played since beating Brechin 2-1 at Glebe Park on January 31 to move into the play-off places for the first time this season but the milder weather should ensure this weekend’s game goes ahead.

Moore said: “It’s always a worry when you have had a break and we would have preferred to have played the Peterhead game but that’s the way it goes. We will be without Ross Forsyth and John O’Neill because of suspension but John has been off his work with illness this week and might have missed out anyway.

“I just hope we can take something from the game and keep the run going. We will go there and play our normal way – we wouldn’t know how to do anything different. We have won at East Fife and Brechin and we should have beaten Raith at their place the last time.

“Raith are a good team but we have nothing to fear. If we can get a win then we will cut the gap to nine points with a game in hand, but realistically our aim has to be to finish in the play-offs. That was the target at the start of the season and we have made a lot of progress to get into the top four.

“It’s not so long ago that we were a long way behind Brechin. Now we have caught up with them so the target has to be Ayr, who are a few points above us. The boys have been working their socks off in the last few weeks and we can’t ask any more than that.

“There’s no point in thinking about what might have been if we had started the season better. We are where we are. Apart from Nathan Taggart, we don’t have any injuries and we are looking forward to the game on Saturday.

“I just hope the curse of the Manager of the Month doesn’t strike! Everyone says that when you win it, things then go downhill,” added Moore after his January prize for a run of successive victories that now stands at five.

On-loan Dundee United midfielder Ryan McCord is in line for his first start tomorrow in place of O’Neill in central midfield, while recent recruit Michael Mullen will be in the squad, although the striker is set to be on the bench.

Albion have an excellent recent record against the Kirkcaldy club, with only one defeat in the last 11 meetings, and won 2-1 at Forthbank last month thanks to goals from O’Neill and Martin Grehan.

That followed a 1-1 draw at Stark’s Park in September when John McGlynn’s men, who are unbeaten at home in 2008/09, required a last-gasp penalty to rescue a point after Ian Harty had missed from the spot for Stirling.

Raith’s last match was a 2-2 draw at Ayr three weeks ago and they also drew their previous fixture, 0-0 at Alloa, but they will feel it is time to end their poor run against a Stirling side who beat them in the play-offs two years ago.

The Binos took part in a midweek friendly game against Airdrie at Glasgow Green which involved Forsyth plus a number of the U19 side, with Moore pleased with the performance of his players despite the 2-1 defeat.

Meanwhile, the Scottish League this week confirmed dates for Albion’s three outstanding matches. Stirling will face Alloa at Forthbank on Tuesday March 3, Peterhead visit a fortnight later, and the vital clash with East Fife has been arranged for Saturday March 28 which was a free date due to Scotland’s World Cup qualifier in Amsterdam that evening.

The revised schedule means Stirling will take on Alloa twice in the space of five days - they are due on the Recreation Park plastic on March 7 - and Moore admits that could be a key period in the club’s season.

“Alloa will be tough as we found out the last time,” he said of November’s 4-3 defeat. “Dropping points against the teams below us has been a problem this season – we seem to have done better against those near the top.”