BINOS ALL AT SEA AT HOME
Forthbank form riles Mackay
Manager Dave Mackay admits Stirling Albion got what they deserved as Stenhousemuir claimed a 2-1 win in Saturday’s local derby at Forthbank.
The Binos head for the capital this weekend to play Edinburgh City at and are still top of Ladbrokes League 2 but their lead has been cut to two points over Montrose. It was a hugely disappointing performance and Brown Ferguson’s side should have won by a bigger margin as they gained revenge for a 3-2 defeat at Ochilview on the opening day. Mackay said: “It was so flat right from the first minute. You can almost tell from the start how we are going to play. We made little errors that lifted Stenhousemuir and allowed them to put us under pressure. They played like it was a derby and we played like it was a friendly. “It was really poor. You get a wee lift with the goal back but the last thing we deserved was anything out of that game. Stenhousemuir deserved it – they were better than us all over the pitch. Cammy Binnie did all right but other than that every single player lost their individual battle.”
The manager continued: “The lack of consistency in the team is baffling. We can be so good one week and look solid and have a shape about us and the following week we can play with the same team and the same system and look a shadow of the team we were.”
Albion have a 100 per cent record away from home and face Edinburgh City and Clyde before returning to Forthbank to host Peterhead on November 25.
Mackay said: “I’m glad we are away for three of the next four games. I’ve asked the players – are they weak mentally that they can’t play in front of 500 fans or whatever at home? I don’t get it. We looked scared to get on the ball and we get dragged into other teams’ games and launch the ball.
“You could say it was quiet but what was there for the fans to get excited about? We need to do something to get them onside.
“I’m not totally alarmed by the home form but it’s starting to look a bit worrying because we look a totally different team away. I hope the players are disappointed.
“We looked like a team of individuals who were just trying to concentrate on their own performance rather than try to encourage others. It is a young squad but I know we are better than that.”
Stirling struggled to deal with Stenhousemuir striker Mark McGuigan, who scored the first from the penalty spot and posed a threat all afternoon.
Mackay said: “I thought first half Ross McGeachie did well against Mark McGuigan but in general we were poor defensively.
“You go out in training and it’s all talking and energy – I genuinely don’t know what happens to them at times when they go out there on a Saturday. It was a great chance to go 10 points clear of Stenhousemuir but instead all the chasing pack have clawed three points back on us.
“Normally we come back from a poor performance with a good reaction and I’m expecting the same against Edinburgh City next week.”