City face a big match this afternoon as they take on high flying Stirling Albion at Forthbank as they look to gain revenge after the Bino’s left Glebe Park with all three points earlier in the season, winning the game 1-0.

One of the problems that day was the lack of a killer touch as City squandered many chances to equalise against Stirling back in August. Despite slamming in 7 goals in the next two matches, City have struggled to find the net since then, scoring only 5 times in 6 matches. City have made a habit of going behind far too often this season which makes it difficult to fight back.

A win could see Brechin leap up into 2nd place, but this obviously depends on other results in the division, and gaffer Michael O’Neill feels it is an important match for both sides. He said, “With this division being so tight, you have to look at games on a head to head basis. Stirling beat us at home already and if we don’t reverse that today then they will have taken six points off us.

“We’ve now picked up four points off Peterhead, which gives us the upper hand over them. I was disappointed with our earlier Stirling game, especially as it came after our two opening performances, although to be honest we had a load of chances to get at least a draw that day, so I want to reverse that result.” He added.

With City converting very little opportunities right now, O’Neill feels it is very important for the defence to keep a clean sheet.

“I’ve emphasised (to the team) our need for clean sheets. I have to be honest that while we’ve been creating chances, we’re not scoring a fantastic amount of goals at the moment so we will have to be very tight at the back.

“Going behind and having to fight back every week is not easy, so hopefully a few clean sheets will create extra confidence. The league’s unbelievably tight and we’re in a situation where we can go from close to the bottom three to second place in a matter of weeks.

“We want to try and get ourselves in a position where we’ve got a bit of distance over the bottom three, and if we go to Stirling and win this afternoon it could put us second. I think the league is going to be like that throughout the season.

“It isn’t good for the heart but it’s the nature of the game in the second division. There is a lot of parity between the teams and we have to get that wee bit extra that will set us apart and keep us in those top positions.” He said.

City have a few injury problems ahead to the trip to Forthbank. David White, Grant Johnson, Ross Archibald and Iain Russell, who would have all been in contention for a starting place had they been fit, are all doubts for City. Steve McManus may make his first start since joining the club a few weeks ago and the manager may also push Kevin Byers into the side, a little earlier than he would have hoped.

O’Neill added, “Looking on the bright side, we might get two of them but there will certainly have to be changes.”

Stirling boss Allan Moore also has a few players out injured. David O’Brien and Paul Nugent are still sidelined, while recent signing Chris Malseed from Irish side Finn Harp is still not match fit, so is unlikely to feature.