Reds focused for Fifers' challenge

Mar 27 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

STIRLING Albion will look to cut the gap on fourth-placed Peter-head to just two points when they face East Fife in a rearranged game at Forthbank tomorrow (Saturday).

The match was due to be played on February 7 when Albion were flying high after five straight wins but was postponed due to East Fife’s Scottish Cup tie at Aberdeen, writes David Ogilvie.

It’s a huge game for both clubs tomorrow as a win for the visitors would lift them above Albion on goal difference and could rekindle their promotion chances, which were damaged by a run of four straight defeats prior to a 4-0 victory over Stranraer last week.

The Binos went down 3-1 to lowly Queen’s Park on Saturday and assistant manager John O’Neill still can’t believe they let three points slip away.

He said: “I don’t think I’ve ever played in a game like that. People talk about missed chances but ours were one-on-one with the goalkeeper and we created so many. I thought our first half performance was excellent apart from the finishing but you always run the risk of being caught out if you don’t get a goal and that’s what happened.

“I think we lost our shape a bit later in the second half but even then we were still creating chances. You can practice all you like in training but that doesn’t recreate the pressure of a match situation.”

Stirling will again be without several players for the match against an East Fife team who they beat 1-0 in Methil on December 13 thanks to a Kevin Fotheringham own goal while the clubs drew 1-1 at Forthbank back in August. They square up for the final time at New Bayview on May 2, which is the second-last Saturday of the season.

O’Neill added: “I don’t think Andy Graham will make it for the weekend. He has been doing some running and is the sort of guy who wants to play no matter what but we have to be careful with him because it was a hamstring injury he picked up a few weeks ago. It’s OK to battle on if you have been kicked or take a knock but this is a different matter.

“There was no chance that Sean Roycroft could have played at Hampden because his hamstring was very tight but it seems a bit better now. He has a chance and it might be that we don’t make a decision on him until Saturday morning.”

David Lowing came through 45 minutes of a bounce game in midweek as he recovers from a knee problem but he is unlikely to make the East Fife match. Ross Forsyth was unable to train on Tuesday but that was more of a precaution and he is expected to be fit. Wingers Chris Hamilton and Nathan Taggart remain on the sidelines at a key stage in the season.

Albion’s recent form has been indifferent – two wins, three draws and two defeats in their last seven outings – and they still have to play Ayr, Raith, Peterhead and East Fife, plus bogey team Queen’s Park and Division Three-bound Stranraer but O’Neill believes the play-offs remain a possibility.

He said: “We just need to be focused on our own game and not worry about results elsewhere over the next few weeks. We have a few players out but there is enough depth and ability in the squad to get a win against East Fife and hopefully we can push on.”

Raith Rovers returned to the top of Division Two with a 4-0 midweek win at third-placed Brechin, who still look good for the play-offs and have a home game against Arbroath tomorrow. Ayr are likely to go top by beating struggling Stranraer at Stair Park but for Albion and East Fife the aim is to eat into the lead held by fourth-placed Peterhead who don’t play tomorrow.

Stirling could yet overhaul them, but time is running out and victory is essential tomorrow afternoon.