Brechin City - Stirling Albion Match Preview

Brechin City entertain Stirling Albion in the first of "four cup finals" as manager Ray McKinnon has described the closing games of this season's campaign.

City will be determined to pick up maximum points to maintain their three point lead over Airdrieonians who face a very difficult match against Angus neighbours Forfar Athletic at Station Park and the manager will be hoping that his players reproduce the form that saw them come away from Cappielow last Saturday with a 2-0 win courtesy of a really excellent team performance.

Ray will go into tomorrow's game without the services of defender Gerry McLauchlan who had to come off in the second-half against Morton with a calf injury and in addition, the manager will be without midfielder Craig Storie who picked up an knee injury whilst away in Austria with the Scotland under 19 team. Alan Trouten who broke a couple of ribs against Peterhead a few weeks ago has also been ruled out of the reckoning for tomorrow's match against the Binos.

City have won all three fixtures against Stirling this season.

In the first encounter between the sides, played at Forthbank on 13th September, City ran out 5-0 winners with Andy Jackson and Alan Trouten each scoring a brace and Bobby Barr getting in on the score-sheet as well. It was a very much closer tussle in the return match at the Glebe in mid November in manager Stuart McLaren's first game in charge of the Binos. A Robert Thomson goal after 27 minutes gave the hosts the perfect start but they faced an uphill struggle with full-back Colin Hamilton's dismissal for deliberate handball early in the second-half. Graeme Smith made a great save from the resultant penalty and Paul McLean increased his side's lead just on the hour mark with former City striker Graham Weir scoring a late consolation for the visitors five minutes before the end. It was again a very close encounter at Forthbank on 21st February when an Alan Trouten penalty, converted after 61 minutes the only goal of the game.

The referee for tomorrow afternoon's fixture is Gavin Ross and the match will be sponsored by Allan Jess with J & R Milne sponsoring the Match Ball.

Admission Prices are :-

Adults - £12
Parent & Child - £15 (Plus an additional £2 admission for each additional child in the family party)
Concessions - £6 (Over 65's and Under 18's)

Other Matches Scottish League One

Ayr United v Peterhead
Dunfermline Athletic v Stranraer
Forfar Athletic v Airdrieonians
Morton v Stenhousemuir

Next Brechin City Match

Brechin City v Dunfermline Athletic at Glebe Park on Saturday 18th April at 3.00pm.