Binos boss faces injury nightmare

Apr 10 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

STIRLING Albion manager Allan Moore is sweating on the fitness of several key players ahead of their must-win home game tomorrow (Saturday) against already-relegated Stranraer.

The Binos are five points behind Peterhead with five games remaining in the race for the play-offs and their top-four hopes will be over if they fail to beat the Blues this weekend.

Albion’s run-in is Stranraer (H), Raith (H), Peterhead (A), East Fife (A) and Queen’s Park (H), while Peterhead have still to play Brechin (H), Stranraer (A), Stirling (H), Arbroath (A) and Ayr United (H).

Strike pair Martin Grehan and David McKenna and goalkeeper Scott Christie were all unable to train on Tuesday night and that places a doubt over their participation against Stranraer.

Top scorers Grehan and McKenna both picked up injuries during Saturday’s 3-1 defeat away to leaders Ayr United, while Christie missed the match because of an ankle knock picked up in training the previous week.

Scott Gibb, Stewart Devine and Andy Lawrie have also been struggling and Moore is likely to leave his decision on selection until the last minute, although central defender Sean Roycroft is definitely out after being sent off at Somerset Park.

Moore said: “All the injuries are obviously a concern but we just need to get on with it and hopefully we will have enough in the locker to beat Stranraer. It might be that we need to win all of our remaining games to have a chance of making the play-offs but that depends on how Peterhead get on. With a bit of luck Brechin will beat them on Saturday.

“I don’t think we can catch Brechin after the way the results went at the weekend.

“It will be a blow if Martin and David are out because they have been playing well and scoring goals but we have the likes of Michael Mullen, Robert Dunn and young Jonny Boyle who can come in. We have been playing Michael wide right because Chris Hamilton has been injured but it’s a bit unfair on him because his natural position is through the middle.”

Hamilton could return after more than six weeks out with a muscle strain and it would be a welcome comeback for the winger, who netted a hat-trick in Albion’s incredible 8-2 victory at Stair Park in January – a result that cost Stranraer manager Derek Ferguson his job.

The Blues were officially relegated to Division Three after losing 3-0 at home to Raith Rovers at the weekend and have posted just two victories this season – one of them against Stirling back in August. They could have won at Forthbank in November but Albion were fortunate to claim a 3-2 triumph on that occasion.

Keith Knox is now at the helm of the south-west club, who have had well-documented financial problems, and the former Stranraer player will be desperate to end the club’s season on a high with some positive results.

Albion should have enough to take all three points but it is likely to be a lot closer than the last meeting between the clubs.

Saturday’s match will be officiated by FA of Wales referee Andy Harms as part of an exchange agreement between the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish FAs.