JORD: WE’LL WORK IT OUT TOGETHER

JORDAN McGREGOR had only clocked off from work at 6am this time last week before helping bag three points to keep Stirling Albion’s survival a realistic prospect.

And the defender is adamant the bonds that carried them to title glory last term are the same ones that will see them go to the mattresses in this one.

ninth-placed Binos are at home to Annan with both locked on 38 points as the visitors’ goaldifference cushion means only a win will spare Stirling a drop play-off.

Unlike last week though, McGregor will head into it with a decent night’s kip after burning the midnight oil as a process operator at Grangemouth last time.

Edinburgh City were still beaten to set up a decider at Forthbank and he said: “I was Friday 6 till 6, got home, had a couple of hours’ sleep then went to my game, left my game and went straight to night shift.

“I’ve had to do that five times this season. I manage to get through it. The only game we didn’t win was actually Annan! At least I’ll get a decent sleep this week before I play them.

“It’s in our hands so the main thing is if we go win, we stay up. It’s a great group of boys, we’ve gelled for a while. We always stick by each other, we’re always there to pick each other up and defend each other.

“Just being as a group is what is going to get us over the line. That is what got us over the line last season – we would always fight and win for each other.

“That is the main thing about our team and will be massive for us this week, that we all stick together and all realise we want to get this job done.” Annan have taken seven points in three games and only lost once in their last nine as they bid to build on their historic promotion.

Defender Matty Douglas has started every league game this term, after 45 regular season minutes last year due to a knee injury.

Asked if staying in the third tier would be more special than reaching it, he said: “It would be for me personally but for the club winning the playoffs last year was massive.

“I’ve played such a big part this year so I’d remember it more than last. I remember sitting in the stand with my crutches next to me and I didn’t want to be there because I should be on the pitch.

“I was still supporting the lads every week, wanted them to win, but it was just difficult. It’s showed how hard I worked to come back that I’ve not had any injuries this year after being out for 13 months.”

Annan will approach this like any other game but he added: “If it’s 1-1 with 10 minutes to go they’re going to fire everything at us. We have to be ready for that.”