Let's make it ten in a row

Mar 13 2009

STIRLING Albion go into the home match tomorrow (Saturday) with third-placed Brechin looking to extend their unbeaten sequence to 10 matches.

Allan Moore’s men have won six and drawn three of their last nine games in Division Two and came from behind to defeat Alloa 3-2 at Recreation Park on Saturday.

Midweek wins for Brechin and Peterhead mean Stirling are four points short of the play-offs but the next few days could be decisive, with both clubs due at Forthbank.

City visit tomorrow and the Blue Toon roll up on Tuesday night.

Assistant manager John O’Neill believes the squad are ready for the key double-header, despite a number of injuries.

“The good thing is that the players just don’t feel as if they are going to get beaten at the moment,” he said.

“We went a goal down at Alloa but had the belief to come back and I thought we played some great football.

“It’s a pity that we have got a few injuries and Ryan McCord has returned to Dundee United after his loan spell. He will be a big miss but this is a chance for the rest of the squad to show what they are made of in the weeks ahead.

“We really want to try and get six points from Brechin and Peterhead and that would cement our place in the top four.

“We have had a couple of disappointing draws at home recently but that isn’t too big a concern, as we beat Ayr and Raith at our place not so long ago and our form this year has generally been good.”

On-loan Falkirk defender Scott Gibb will miss tomorrow’s game through suspension but will be available to face Peterhead on Tuesday. With Andy Graham and David Lowing sidelined due to injury, the Binos are short of options so left-back Ross Forsyth could move into the centre of defence to accommodate Stewart Devine.

O’Neill added: “We still have to decide who will replace Ryan McCord in midfield. Liam Corr is obviously one option.

“I think he started the season really well and maybe suffered a bit because those around him weren’t playing so well so this could be a chance for him now, with the team doing better.”

Albion beat Brechin 2-1 at Glebe Park at the end of January but City won the previous two meetings by the same score.

Defeat tomorrow would leave Albion seven points adrift of Jim Duffy’s team, who seem to have recovered from a poor run of form.

They beat struggling Stranraer 1-0 on Tuesday, thanks to a Rory McAllister goal, and are probably favourites to claim third spot, although all that could change in a big weekend that also sees East Fife take on Peterhead.

O’Neill added: “If I am being honest it wasn’t a surprise that Brechin and Peterhead won during the week. You are always hoping for a bonus of dropped points but the play-off situation is in our hands and that is all we can ask for.

“We still have to play all of the teams and the players haven’t let us down in any of the big games.

“I know we have drawn twice with Peterhead but I felt we could have won both of them with a bit of luck.”

Stirling have drawn their previous two home games against Arbroath and Alloa and another stalemate tomorrow would not derail their top-four aspirations.

But victories against Brechin and Peterhead could leave Stirling very well placed ahead of next weekend’s visit to Queen’s Park at Hampden.