How they stand

“The manager is working hard to bring players in during January - given our position at the bottom of the table it’s something we have to do. We have players in mind because we are lacking quality in certain areas but in the meantime we have to get the best out of those at the club.”

The 34 year-old defender added: “In terms of my own situation the short-term focus has to be on helping Dave (Mackay) with the team more than playing and I also need to get up to full fitness because I’ve only played in two of the last 12 matches.”

Meanwhile, Darren Smith staked a claim for a starting place against Annan by grabbing a double as an over-age player for the U20 team in a 5-0 home win over Development League East leaders Berwick Rangers on Tuesday night.

The former Motherwell forward recently returned to the first-team squad after an injury lay-off and netted either side of half-time on the Forthbank plastic after Connor McMullan had opened the scoring with a superb free-kick. Ross Kavanagh grabbed the fourth goal from the penalty spot and substitute Reg McLaren claimed the fifth in the last minute.

Stirling’s most recent home game saw them beat Highland Wick Academy 2-0 a fortnight ago to set up a Scottish Cup fourth-round meeting with Clyde at Forthbank on January 21 but the club face a vital run of League 2 games before then, with their SPFL status under threat.

The referee for tomorrow’s game against Annan is Craig Napier and kick-off is the usual 3pm. Admission is £13 for adults, £9 for concessions, £5 for U16s and free for U12s.