Brechin City - Stenhousemuir Match Preview

Brechin City will be hoping to return to winning ways when taking on 7th placed Stenhousemuir at Glebe Park.

Although last Saturday’s defeat to League One Champions Dunfermline Athletic, combined with a shock victory for Cowdenbeath at Peterhead, saw City drop back to the bottom of the table, hopes remain high that a repeat of the form shown during March will provide the platform to secure safety come the end of the season. Only 2 points separate the bottom 3 clubs and in the 5-game run-in City face all 3 of their closest rivals - starting today with Brown Ferguson’s Warriors. The Ochilview side currently enjoy a 6-point advantage over both City and Forfar Athletic who occupy the bottom 2 places. Our visitors come into today’s game in the full knowledge that a victory would create a 9 point gap between themselves and City and, with only 12 points then up for grabs, it would go a long way to seeing The Warriors avoid the automatic relegation slot. However, City will be hugely motivated too, knowing that a home victory would ensure all 4 teams remain very much in the relegation shake up.

Whilst City’s 4-game winning run came to an end last weekend at East End Park, Stenny did themselves a power of good by defeating Forfar Athletic 2-1 at Ochilview. An 88th minute winner from Colin McMenamin not only secured a vital 3 points to ease their relegation worries, but it also stopped a run of form which saw only 1 win in 9 games.

Neither team has absolutely dominated the 3 previous fixtures this season. In September, Alan Cook gave Stenhousemuir the lead at Ochilview, but goals from Andy Jackson and David Weatherston put City ahead before a spectacular volley from Carlos Mazana-Martinez in added-on time ensured a share of the spoils. The sides met again at Glebe Park in November. Alan Cook again put the Warriors ahead, before Isaac Layne pulled City level – but the 3 points would head Ochilview way due to an 80th minute winner from Colin McMenamin. Following something of a false-start (ie, the abandoned game in January due to snow) the re-scheduled fixture saw a goal-less stalemate in early February.

In terms of team news, Lewis Spence comes back into contention after being ineligible to play against his parent club last weekend. Changes are enforced in defence as Player Manager Darren Dods will definitely miss out as a result of a torn thigh, and full back Willie Dyer serves a one match suspension. With recent absentees Jonathon Tiffoney, Darren McCormack and David Weatherston likely to undergo pre-match fitness tests, expect to see Jamie Robson, and Liam Coogans, as well as new development loan signing from Dundee United Jassem Sukar pushing for starting places.

The Match Referee will be Gavin Ross who has been in charge of two City fixtures already this season – firstly the 2-0 home victory over Cowdenbeath in September, and more latterly the best-forgotten midweek 4-1 defeat at Cliftonhill against Albion Rovers.

A limited number of day passes are available for The 1983 Hospitality Lounge so please contact The Club through the usual channels if you fancy making a day of it for this or the upcoming home fixture against Peterhead on 16th April.

Admission Prices at Glebe Park are :-

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

Other Games Ladbrokes Scottish League One

Albion Rovers v Dunfermline Athletic
Cowdenbeath v Ayr United
Forfar Athletic v Peterhead
Stranraer v Airdrieonians

The next Brechin City match will be the crunch away fixture against league rivals Cowdenbeath on Saturday 9th April. The Brechin City Supporters Club will be running a bus to this match which will depart from St Ninians Square at 11.00am. Please contact William on 07925 227826 if you wish to book a seat.