Mcinally facing defensive guessing game

With three defenders and star striker Rory Mcallister struggling to be fit, Peterhead manager Jim Mcinally will delay naming his line-up to face visitors Stenhousemuir until the last minute.

The Blue Toon are 2-0 down and Mcinally knows that his side’s chances of overturning the deficit will be boosted if he can get Mason Robertson, David Mccracken, Jason Brown and Mcallister on the pitch.

Mcinally said: “I have a good idea of what we will do if Rory does not make it and what our shape will be middle to front. However I have no idea what our defence will be and I will not know until about one o’clock.”

Whatever team Mcinally is able to send out will be told to be cautious as opposed to carefree as they try to peg back Stenhousemuir. He said: “We could react to losing the first leg by winding everyone up and sending them out on a cavalry charge. However, there is no point in being daft about things.

“We will look to get ahead and then see what happens. We also have to ensure we do not get caught on the break and that will be tough with a makeshift defence.”

Stenhousemuir manager Brown Ferguson will stick with the tactics that have brought his side previous victories over Peterhead as opposed to sending his players out with a defensive gameplan.

The Warriors have seen off the Blue Toon in seven of their last nine games. Ferguson sid: “We have been successful against Peterhead by playing in a certain manner and we are not going to change from that. It is too late in the season to adjust things anyway.

“We are fully expecting them to go for it from the first whistle. We have to deal with their attacking threat and look to hit them on the break if we are under pressure.”