Brechin City - Stranraer Match Preview

Brechin City will go into tomorrow's home game against Stranraer knowing that their place in the play-offs has been secured but still unsure as to who they will be facing in the first leg at the Glebe next Wednesday night.

With Cowdenbeath, Livingston and Alloa Athletic all fighting hard for their Championship survival, it will be 4.45pm on Saturday afternoon before the dust settles and City learn who their opponents will be.

In the meantime, Stephen Aitken's Stranraer side will provide really stiff opposition tomorrow. The Blues still have an outside chance of winning the title but to do that they would require both Morton and Forfar to lose. However, the Stranraer manager will be telling his players to forget about what's happening elsewhere and to solely focus on picking up three league points and City boss Ray McKinnon will be delivering a similar message to his players as the City boss is determined to finish the league campaign proper on a high and go into the play-offs on the back of a victory.

Ray will again be without centre-back Gerry McLauchlan who remains on the injured list and in addition, Andy Jackson is suspended with Robert Thomson being the likely replacement.

Games between the sides this season have been hard-fought, close and competitive and it would be a surprise if that pattern differs tomorrow afternoon.

The sides have met three times already this season with a draw and two victories for both sides the outcomes. On 23rd August at Stair Park, the sides shared four goals. City had grabbed an early 2-0 lead with goals from Colin Hamilton and Craig Molloy but the hosts hit back shortly after half-time when Adam Forde reduced the deficit and they grabbed the equaliser in the final minute of the game when Stephen Stirling scored. Stephen Aitken's men went one better at Glebe Park two months later coming out on top by 2-1. Skipper Frank McKeown had headed them in front just on the half-hour mark with Robert Thomson equalising six minutes later. Both sides went all out for the winner after the break and unfortunately for City, it was the visitors who made the vital breakthrough after 73 minutes when Sean Winter headed home what proved to be the winner. City turned the tables down at Stranraer in January when they came out on top by 2-0 courtesy of a couple of goals by on-loan Dundee striker Craig Wighton who opened the scoring a minute before half-time, adding a second goal in the 73rd minute.

The referee tomorrow is Craig Charleston who has been in charge of a couple of City games this season, the 2-0 League Cup defeat from Peterhead in August and the 1-1 draw against Airdrieonians in January.

The Match is being sponsored by Turner and Townsend and Graeme Russell is sponsoring the Match Ball. Mascots are Fraser and Murray Thomson while the Matchday Magazine is being sponsored by The Stables Lounge.

In the Matchday Magazine you can read the latest views of manager Ray McKinnon, Club captain Tiger Molloy and an interview with City's longest serving player Paul McLean - as well as the latest BCFC Quiz and " Unscramble the Teamlines."

Normal Admission Prices will apply which are :-

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

Other Matches Scottish League One

Airdrieonians v Dunfermline Athletic
Forfar Athletic v Ayr United
Morton v Peterhead
Stirling Albion v Stenhousemuir