DAVE BUILDS ON FIRST WIN
Mackay can’t wait for Forthbank debut
Stirling Albion boss Dave Mackay takes charge of his first home game on Saturday when Arbroath visit Forthbank.
The 35-year-old made a winning start to his managerial career at the weekend when former Rangers full-back Jamie Mills marked his first appearance since August with a last-minute goal in a 3-2 victory away to Elgin City at Borough Briggs.
Mackay, who played for Dundee, Livingston, Oxford United and St Johnstone, before announcing his retirement earlier this season due to a troublesome hip injury, takes over from Stuart McLaren, who parted company with the club at the end of September after a 4-0 defeat to Elgin.
Former Queen of the South boss James Fowler last month turned down an offer, instead moving to St Mirren as No 2, and Martyn Corrigan had a spell as caretaker manager before Mackay was announced as the successful candidate a week ago today.
Mackay was delighted with his side’s response to being a goal down at half-time on Saturday but knows Arbroath will provide stiff opposition this weekend, on the back of a 4-0 win over Clyde and having beaten the Binos 5-3 at Gayfield at the end of August.
He said: “Arbroath are a good side. I’ve no doubt they will be up there at the end of the season.
“I know Dick Campbell, who I worked with when I was a young boy on loan at Brechin, and he has always done a great job at this level. They had a good 4-0 win against a decent Clyde side but we have to go into the game with confidence after the result we had at Elgin because not many people gave us a chance.
“There’s a big month coming up and I’m pleased for the players that we managed to start with a win because it’s been hard for them.
“Results haven’t been too bad in the last few weeks, until the Forfar game, but there’s been a lot of uncertainty and now they can concentrate on the football.
“We were sloppy in possession in the first half and could have been a couple of goals down because Elgin had a one-on- one chance and another opportunity but in the second half the boys were excellent and went out and did everything we asked of them.
“We scored within 30 seconds of the restart but the whole secondhalf performance was great, other than conceding a sloppy goal. They reacted well to that and managed to get a winner.
“It was great for Jamie to get the goal. That one was probably more down to Ross Forsyth – we knew we had to make a couple of changes because Willie Robertson had cramp and Marc McKenzie was looking very leggy just before we brought him off. Ross suggested we could play Jamie a bit further forward on the left and thankfully it paid off, so he can take the credit for that one!” ROBERTSON ON TRIAL New Binos boss Dave Mackay has confirmed that Willie Robertson has the chance to seal a return to Forthbank if he impresses on trial. The former Dundee United and Alloa midfielder left Stirling towards the end of last season and had a spell with Annan earlier this term but is now a free agent.
He can’t sign with another club until the transfer window opens in January but can play up to three games as a trialist and featured at right-back against Elgin on Saturday.
Mackay said: “Willie has got three games as a trialist to impress me and he certainly did that on Saturday. He played out of position because we were a bit short but his work rate was excellent. Ross Forsyth has seen him in training and said he was looking sharp and determined to win a contract.” ALBION LOTTO Last week’s Albion Lotto numbers were 18, 22, 25, 34. No jackpot winner so today’s jackpot is £20,000! One player matched three numbers to win £250. You can play online at www.safclotto.co.uk