Boss relishing Leaguetwo opener against title favourites
Binos boss Kevin Rutkiewicz is relishing the prospect of an opening-day clash against League Two title favourites Queen’s Park on Saturday, October 17.
The SPFL fixture list last week paired the sides together at Forthbank on day one for the second season in a row, with the Spiders winning 1-0 a year ago.
Stirling go to Stenhousemuir the following week in what looks like a tough start to 2020/21 before hosting Annan Athletic on October 31 and travelling to Brechin on November 7.
Rutkiewicz’s men complete what they hope will be a successful 27game League Two campaign away to relegated Stranraer on May 1, 2021 but start against a Queen’s Park side who have made some notable summer signings in Bob Mchugh and Michael Doyle and are expected to strengthen further.
The Albion boss said: “We are starting at home to the favourites. Ray Mckinnon will play it down obviously but they are a full-time team in a part-time league. He is getting a new squad and the pressure is on Queen’s Park but there is also a pressure on us to try and win the game.
“I believe we have assembled a strong squad and it’s going to be a tough league but I’m really looking forward to it and I think it’s a perfect way to start the season.
“It’s a mouth-watering fixture and both teams will be up for it – I’m hoping we can give the fans an indication of how it’s going to be for the rest of the season.
“I was delighted to get Scott Roberts on board last week – he can play on either wing and I believe he has the ability to light up the league. That’s five new signings now but we are still actively looking for one more before we start training next month.”
Meanwhile, Stirling will discover their Betfred Cup opponents when the 40-club group stage draw is made on Monday at 1pm. Fans will be able to watch the draw on the Freesports channel and it will also be streamed on the SPFL Youtube channel.
The SPFL have yet to confirm the seeding pots but the Binos will be among the unseeded clubs and have been in the north half of the draw since the competition was revamped in 2016/17.
Assuming it’s the same again, they could potentially face the likes of Hearts, Hibs, Dundee or Dundee United in the group stages, which are due to begin on Tuesday, October 6.
There are further matchdays on Saturday, October 10 and Tuesday, October 13 and the first phase concludes over Saturday, November 10 and Tuesday, November 14.
It was a mixed bag for the Binos in last season’s competition, with an impressive 1-1 draw against Hibs at Forthbank and a good performance in a narrow defeat at Alloa either side of heavy losses to Arbroath and Elgin City.
Stirling’s best-ever run in the League Cup was back in season 1961/62 when they reached the semi-finals but lost 2-1 to Hearts after extra time at Easter Road.