Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Rovers hold firm to see off Binos
ALBION ROVERS ................................... 1 STIRLING ALBION ................................. 0 Albion Rovers manager Brian Reid has praised goalkeeper Cammy Binnie for his performance against former club Stirling Albion in an important 1-0 victory in League Two.
The 24-year-old made an abundance of saves and was named man of the match for his role in the win. He made 74 Forthbank appearances before joining the Wee Rovers in the summer.
Kyle Doherty’s first half strike was enough for the Cliftonhill side to move within three points of the league’s promotion play-off spots, despite sitting seventh.
Aron Lynas was sent off for Reid’s side in the second half while Binos defender Adam Cummins was dismissed soon after.
The victory was a fifth clean sheet in six games for Albion Rovers and provided a positive response to Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat to Stenhousemuir, a win Binnie played a big part in.
“It’s another clean sheet which I am delighted about,” said Reid. “It was disappointing on Tuesday night to concede three because before that we had four clean sheets in-a-row.
“Stirling Albion are a tough team and they made a lot of changes with players coming back in. It was a tough game for us and I’m really glad we’ve come through it.
“It was a wee bit similar to the Scottish Cup game against Brora Rangers. We lost a man with 20 minutes to go and we saw that out by defending properly and getting a clean sheet. That’s the biggest thing for us.
“We are a wee bit short on numbers just now. We are looking to the bench and there’s only one defensive player on it. We defended well and my goalkeeper made a few good saves.
“I think Cammy was disappointed on Tuesday but he’s done well for us this season. He was at Stirling Albion for a good number of years.
“Tuesday wasn’t his best game but he responded to that with a magnificent performance.
“He was big and brave, talked well and caught crosses.
“I was pleased to see that but he’s only one part of that. It was another good performance from all the players.”
Rovers are in a good position in League Two and have momentum on their side.
“Reid says his team have to focus on the short term and continue racking up wins.
He added: “We’ve got a good group here who give it everything and that is all I can ask for.
“They work hard. Everything we get from the players is 100 per cent.
“As a manager, you can only ask for that. We just look for that bit of quality and a bit of luck, as sometimes you need that.
“It could have went against us with 10 men but we defended from the front.
“The league is so tight so we take things game by game at the moment. We are in a good position and we are on a good wee run at the moment, outside the game at Stenhousemuir.
“We responded well to come out on top and we continue to take it game by game.”
Rovers return to action on Saturday when they visits Annan Athletic.