FIRST WIN IS JUST ROUND THE CORNER
Mackay confident Binos’poor run will end
Stirling Albion head for Elgin City on Saturday, with Borough Briggs the scene of their last league victory back in March.
Goals from Willie Robertson and Lee Hamilton earned Dave Mackay’s men an impressive 2-0 victory that night and there was no sign of the collapse in form, which has seen them pick up no wins, three draws and eight defeats in the 11 league matches since.
The 2-0 reverse to leaders Peterhead means Stirling remain without a point this season while Elgin took seven points from three outings before Saturday’s game at home to Cowdenbeath was postponed as an area of the pitch was covered in gravel — apparently a result of the prolonged drought in the Moray area which has damaged the surface.
Stirling desperately need a win to take into the international break, before their Ladbrokes League Two campaign resumes against Queen’s Park at Forthbank on Saturday September 15.
Mackay said: “There is pressure to pick up points after the start we have had but I’m sure a win is just around the corner. We need that first goal which just keeps evading us at the minute — we had lots of chances in the first game at Berwick and we couldn’t get the goal.
“When we have gone behind in games you can see it deflating the boys but I thought there was a better reaction against Peterhead.
“After the first 10 minutes we really came into it and got a foot-hold in the game. We had a couple of good chances – Kevin Fell was through then Ross McGeachie puts a great ball in and there are a couple of guys hanging back instead of going to attack it. We didn’t test their goalkeeper enough, though, and some of our crossing was poor. “I don’t know if it was a free-kick or not but it’s an unbelievable finish from Jamie Stevenson and he scored a great goal here last year as well. It’s a tough one to take at that stage of the game but second half we came out and were competing well again but then we concede a poor goal from a ball down the middle. We lose the first header and we don’t match Rory McAllister and he does what he does best – if you give him a chance he will normally finish it. “That took the wind out our sails and they had another couple of chances after that because we are having to chase the game. Overall, it was much better than the last few weeks — there was a real fight about them and more encouraging signs, and it will turn.”
Former Scotland defender Darren Barr returned to the side after undergoing knee surgery last month and last season’s top scorer Darren Smith was also back in the squad.
Mackay added: “The positives are that Darren Barr has had 90 minutes in his legs, although he looked knackered towards the end. It was worth the risk throwing him back in because the chance of injuring himself again was very low. Darren Smith is slightly behind in his recovery and is feeling his back still but we got him back on the pitch, which is good news.
“It’s been very frustrating but we should have almost a full squad to choose from next week as Jason Marr and Kevin Moon are not far away.
“Mark Stewart suffered a collapsed lung I think but we are hoping he is not out for long because his pace can worry defenders and stretch teams.”