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Unbeaten Binos confident
Stirling Albion head for Glebe Park tomorrow to take on Brechin City as they look to build on their positive start to the season.
Kevin Rutkiewicz’s side opened up with draws against Queen’s Park and Stenhousemuir before beating Annan Athletic 1-0 at Forthbank on Saturday thanks to a goal from Andy Ryan.
Brechin parted company with manager Mark Wilson after heavy defeats to Edinburgh City and Elgin City and got off the mark with a 2-0 win at Albion Rovers under caretaker player/boss Michael Paton and experienced coach Gerry Mccabe.
Albion’s last away win in League 2 was 2-0 at Glebe Park on February 29 and another victory tomorrow would leave them well placed in the early standings.
Stirling host Montrose in Betfred Cup Group D on Tuesday, November 10, kick-off 7.45pm, then travel to Dingwall to play Ross County in their final Betfred Cup fixture next weekend.
But the focus now is on the Brechin match and striker Dylan Mackin is likely to return to the squad with a late decision expected on defender Paul Mclean and winger Kieran Moore.
Rutkiewicz said: “Brechin seem to have had a bit of a bounce last week and they will be optimistic after beating Albion Rovers.
“They will be feeling more positive than they might have been before that but I’m not sure them winning makes it a harder game – it would be hard anyway and we discovered that against them last year.
“Brechin lost their first two games but the fixtures haven’t been too kind to them and we only need to reflect back to the Elgin game in the Betfred Cup – if we switch off at all it will turn into a very difficult day for us.
“I thought we were the better team against Annan last week. They were not without chances and it was a bit nervy at 1-0 at times but, overall, I felt we justified the three points and there were some fabulous performances.
“We knocked the ball about well in the first half playing against the wind and maybe not being clinical would be the only thing we could have done better but the conditions played a part in that.
“A second goal would have given us a bit of breathing space but it was a strong performance against a team who were going well. We matched their physical challenge.
“We are in a good place at the moment. We are playing well and are undefeated in the league. It’s a solid start without being spectacular and we just need to build on it.”
Albion fans will be able to watch the match live on Brechin City’s Hedge TV channel for £10.
Meanwhile, Rutkiewicz may freshen up his side for Tuesday’s Betfred Cup tie against a Montrose team who beat local rivals Forfar Athletic 3-2 at Station Park last weekend. Neither side have managed a win in Group D so far, with both suffering defeats to Arbroath and Elgin City.
The Binos boss said: “There won’t be wholesale changes against Montrose but it maybe gives the likes of Sean Heaver, Dylan Mackin and Dom Docherty the chance of some game time.”
Stirling beat East of Scotland League side Dunipace in a friendly at Westfield Park on Monday, with Sean Heaver scoring twice for an Albion side that included a mix of first team and U18 players.