Reds hoping for a good away day

Mar 18 2009

STIRLING Albion travel to Hampden on Saturday aiming to extend their excellent away form when they meet Queen’s Park, writes DAVID OGILVIE.

Albion have yet to beat the Spiders this season, drawing 1-1 in Glasgow in October and going down 3-0 at Forthbank just before Christmas, but have lost only once on their travels since August and defeated Alloa 3-2 in their last outing on the road,.

Allan Moore’s men saw their play-off hopes dented by Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at home to Brechin and were involved in a vital Forthbank clash with third-placed Peterhead last night (Tuesday) when a win was badly needed to revive their top-four fortunes.

Two goals from on-loan Stephen Ettien and a Rory McAllister header saw City edge to victory after Sean Roycroft and John O’Neill had given Albion hope against a team who have a terrific record in Stirling.

Moore said: “I thought we were mugged to be honest, because at 2-1 up we were in control. I think if we had got another one it would have been game over and I just couldn’t see them scoring but the goals we lost were a disgrace. The first one was just a punt up the park and we had warned the players about that before the game.

“Like last week against Alloa we came back and played some good stuff but they got the equaliser almost two minutes over time at the end of the first half. I asked the referee why he played so long and he said it was for the delay when there were no spare balls but if we had held on until half-time it would have put a different complexion on the game.

“We didn’t turn up in the second half and that was really disappointing. Obviously their winning goal came from a blunder by Scott Christie but these things happen and he made some great saves at Alloa the previous week.

“We have lost players because of injury and suspension at the wrong time and we are missing Ryan McCord who has gone back to Dundee United. We were one-dimensional in the second half and never really got the ball down and passed it – I don’t think Craig Nelson had a save to make.

“We have to pick ourselves up for the games coming up but Chris Hamilton, David Lowing and Andy Graham are still nowhere near ready to return and Liam Corr seems to be unlucky against Brechin because that’s the second time he has had to come off injured.

“I don’t think the defence had a good day all round and the full-backs didn’t have the desire to get forward like they did at Alloa and get balls into the box and we are missing a bit of pace in the wide areas. I thought David McKenna was outstanding up front in the first half but the conditions generally didn’t suit our style of play.”

Meanwhile Brechin boss Jim Duffy tried to play down the importance of City’s third win of the season against Stirling despite the fact they look destined for the play-offs now.

He said: “I wouldn’t say it was a huge win. There is a long way to go but it helps build confidence because Stirling have been on a good run. Getting the equaliser just before half-time was a key factor as it gave us a platform for the second half, although I wouldn’t have been unhappy with a 2-2 draw.”

Stirling should be capable of taking all three points on Saturday against a Queen’s Park side who have slipped into the relegation play-off place and have managed just two victories at Hampden this season. They were held to a 2-2 draw at bottom club Stranraer at the weekend, which was their third draw on the trot.

Albion last week signed Robert Dunn after his release from Second Division rivals Queen’s Park and the right-sided attacking midfielder made his debut as a substitute for Liam Corr against Brechin on Saturday. The 29-year-old, who has had two previous spells at Forthbank, has also turned out for Dumbarton, Partick and St Mirren.

Boss Allan Moore said: “We are short of options on the right so hopefully Robert will be able to help us in that respect. He is here until the end of the season and it’s probably just as well as we would have been struggling to fill the squad on Saturday otherwise.”