LINKS PARK FACE-OFF FOR HIGH FLYERS
Second-half comeback for County Binos off to Montrose after Clyde setback
Stirling Albion head for Links Park on Saturday for a top-of-the-table clash against Montrose.
The Binos, a point clear at the summit of Ladbrokes League 2, are aiming to bounce back from a 3-2 home defeat to Clyde while the Gable Endies go into the match on the back of a 1-1 draw at Peterhead, where veteran striker Chris Templeman grabbed a last-gasp equaliser.
Montrose have already knocked Dave Mackay’s men out of the IRNBRU Cup, deservedly winning 3-1 at Forthbank on a night when both teams made several changes, and they have since accounted for Ayr United to set up a home tie with Queen of the South in round three.
Mackay knows his side will require an improved performance to the one against Clyde if they are to take anything from their trip to the North Sea coast before back-to-back home fixtures with Annan Athletic and Elgin City later this month.
Peter MacDonald gave Stirling an early lead against his old club and Callumn Morrison squared the game at 2-2 after an hour with his fifth goal of the season. However, the visitors, inspired by David Goodwillie, got the winner though Barry Cuddihy with 11 minutes left to earn their first success on the road since beating Brora Rangers in the Scottish Cup last October.
Mackay said: “It was a disappointing result and performance. We didn’t really get going at all. The first half was a scrappy game and they deservedly went in equal at the break.
“There are no real complaints about the result. I don’t think they were anything special but we just didn’t deal with Goodwillie. We said we had to but he ran riot against our two centre-halves and caused us all sorts of bother.
“It wasn’t any great football from Clyde, it was just them turning the ball over and long balls in behind and we just couldn’t deal with it, simple as that. He has that quality that will win you games.”
Mackay added: “We looked disjointed and didn’t look comfortable all day. Clyde are a decent team and they will do all right this year. They have added a lot of players so it’s not going to click overnight but they are certainly a better team than last year, that’s for sure.
“There are no excuses, we just didn’t perform. Clyde had two weeks off as well so it was the same for them. We worked hard in training but we just didn’t play like we did in the first four games.
“The quality was lacking at times. I wouldn’t have a go at them for lack of workrate because I think that was there, we just looked a little bit sluggish compared to the zip that we’ve had in the first month of the season.”
Stirling won 3-1 on their last visit to Links Park in March and drew 2-2 there on Christmas Eve and the August Manager of the Month is confident his team can get back on track this weekend against Stewart SEE PAGE 53 Petrie’s men. Mackay added: “We’ve just got to view the Clyde game as a blip. We’ve had one or two of these so far – against Falkirk in the League Cup and Montrose in the IRN-BRU Cup, and we’ve responded well after those games so I’ve no doubt that we’ll have a better performance next week.
“If you’d said we would have 12 points after five games you’d have taken it but it’s just disappointing to lose the little run in the manner that we did.”
Sean Dickson and Andy Little are still on the injury list but the former has started some running as he recovers from a hip problem and could return to training next week.