Stirling Albion have chance to go back to top of division two

Nov 20 2009

STIRLING Albion welcome Cowdenbeath to Forthbank tomorrow (Saturday) as the top two in Division Two go head to head.

Allan Moore’s men came from behind to win 2-1 at Central Park in September but have since lost top spot on goal difference to the Blue Brazil, who have taken 19 points from 21 and are on a run of four successive away victories without conceding a single goal.

It’s a remarkable sequence from a team who would have been playing Third Division football had it not been for Livingston’s demotion, with Danny Lennon’s outfit beaten on penalties by Stenhousemuir in the play-off decider.

Albion and Cowdenbeath have a five-point lead over the chasing pack and Moore believes his team can build on last week’s victory over East Fife, when Martin Grehan’s last-minute winner earned the Binos a vital three points.

He said: “Cowdenbeath have been on a good run but we managed to beat them the last time and I don’t see any reason why we can’t do the same again although it would certainly help if we didn’t keep giving away the first goal. We played some good stuff in the second half against East Fife and created a lot of chances so credit to the boys for coming back.

“We need to take more of our chances and we also need better delivery into the penalty box from wide areas and that is something I have spoken to the players about. That let us down on Saturday which is disappointing because we got into a lot of good positions.”

New signing Bryan Prunty is certain to be involved following his loan move from Ayr, having taken part in a bounce game against St Mirren on Tuesday night. The former Celtic, Aberdeen, Inverness CT and Airdrie striker bagged 17 goals last season - including a double in a 2-2 draw at Forthbank - but is yet to get off the mark this term.

That does not worry Moore, who added: “I think Bryan is the type of player who will stick the ball in the net if he gets the chances. With Ayr struggling in Division One I’m not sure if he has had many opportunities to score but I think he will do well for us.

“He is only here until January at the moment but he will give us competition for places. With Bryan, Martin Grehan, David McKenna and Michael Mullen I think we have four of the best strikers in the division and this game is all about scoring goals.

“Michael missed training last week because of tonsillitis but he scored against St Mirren on Tuesday. Martin and David have obviously linked up well but I don’t want them to think they are guaranteed a game every week. I certainly didn’t bring Bryan Prunty here to have him sitting in the stand – he will definitely be involved on Saturday.”

Talismanic defender Andy Graham took a heavy knock at New Bayview but will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness but midfielder Stewart Devine is rated very doubtful and John O’Neill and Paul Murphy were also unable to train in midweek.

That means youngsters Liam Corr and Ross McCord, the latter on loan from Dundee United, could make rare starts as Stirling bid to end a disappointing run of home results that have produced draws against Arbroath and Clyde and a 1-0 derby defeat to Alloa.

Tomorrow is the first of a trio of crucial Forthbank fixtures. Auchinleck Talbot visit in the Scottish Cup next weekend, with a place in the potentially-lucrative fourth round at stake, before a much-improved Dumbarton come to town on December 5, barring cup replays.