Petrie expecting Stranraer to give his team tough test

Montrose manager Stewart Petrie knows how hard visitors Stranraer will be looking for the win that could lift them off bottom spot at Links Park this afternoon, as it was not that long ago the Gable Endies were sitting in tenth.

Three wins in a row have put a different complexion on Montrose’s season but Petrie knows a fourth success will not be easy as the Stair Park men will be looking to copy their rise.

Petrie explained: “We were never panicking after picking up just one point in our first seven games, as we were competitive in every one. However, you do start to get concerned over how the players are feeling.

“Confidence comes from winning and if you do not do that in a while then the confidence in the squad drops.

“Picking up wins changes that as we saw last weekend when we went behind at Airdrie early on.

“There was a belief that we would get back into things as we had won our two previous games.”

Petrie added: “As it turned out we managed to be leading at the break. Airdrie put us under pressure in the second half and we hung on a bit until we went up the park late on and scored a third goal to secure a 3-1 win.

“Everything feels good for us at the moment but I know how hard we had to work to turn things around. That is how hard Stranraer will work to beat us and start things turning for them.

“There is never an easy game against them anyway. Stephen Farrell is a good manager who after seeing his team lose four on the bounce has stabilised things by drawing three. They will now be looking to turn draws into wins, so we are in for a tough afternoon.”

Striker Martin Rennie remains out through suspension and Lewis Milne is missing through injury. However, Ross Campbell is fit and available again.