Stranraer make the long trip north to Glebe Park tomorrow as they look to bounce back from last Saturday's 3-0 defeat against league leaders Morton at Cappielow. Gerry Britton has done a fairly good job at Stranraer since leaving City to take up the vacant managerial position at Stair Park in the summer, securing the signatures of some decent players with a very low wage budget. He also managed to persuade David Hamilton, who was outstanding for the Blues in division one last season, and is currently top scorer so far in the league this season, to sign a new contract to keep him at the club after his contract expired in the summer.

Like Brechin, Stranraer have struggled to find consistency in the league this season, putting in some fabulous displays one week, then some very poor shows the next. The Blues problem is arguably the amount of goals they have been leaking as Stranraer have conceded an alarming 24 goals so far this season, ten more than Brechin. However, Stranraer have scored three more goals than Brechin so far but City still have a far superior goal difference to Stranraer, who are currently on level points with City.

Both sides have played each other regularly in recent years as Stranraer followed Brechin up into the 1st division 2 seasons ago, and then straight back down again. The two outfits played each other down at Stair Park at the start of September and despite City creating numerous chances, they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat with Paul McMullan scoring a wonder goal in the dying seconds to put the icing on the cake for the Blues.

Brechin will be hoping to bounce back from their defeat against 2nd placed Stirling last week and while they played poorly in the first half, they could count themselves unlucky not to have snatched a draw as they had 3 goals chalked off for offside and had a missed penalty with 5 minutes to go.

City chairman David Birse was disappointed with the result, he said "Our first half was a poor, poor performance. You could see that the manager was angry as well, and no wonder because we were certainly below par. He changed things at half time and they certainly played better - to be honest we should have come away with at least a share of the points on the back of the second half performance.

"If the penalty had gone in we'd have drawn and there was at least one disallowed goal which should have stood. We were very unlucky, and even the Stirling directors would agree. We must start games in a more positive attitude though, because it was certainly unacceptable in the first half.

"Even in our first game against Stirling we deserved something, which is why it is all the more galling that in both games we've come away with nothing. I've said it before and I'll say it again, there is nothing between the teams in this division, except for Morton who are running away with it. Other than them there is nothing in it, but we must play for 90 minutes and not just 45. If we play for 90 minutes then we will certainly fly up this league.

"We need to start doing that with Stranraer tomorrow afternoon. It will no doubt be a close game, but we're certainly looking to win it - and we should win it. But we must play for the full 90 minutes. If we play to our potential we will come away with the three points."

Both sides have a few injury doubts ahead of the match. Grant Johnson looks to be out for a while longer yet while Iain Russell, Ross Archibald and Stuart Ferguson are all doubts for the home side. Steven McManus may well make his first competitive appearance for City while Kevin Byers will be looking to establish himself in the first team again after an injury which has kept him out for most of the season.

Meanwhile, striker Kenny Wright and midfielder Gary McPhee are both almost definitely sidelined for the visitors, although Lee Sharpe returns from injury. Sandy Hodge, who recently re-joined the club on loan from Partick Thistle, may well make his debut.

A win in this match could see City take over Cowdenbeath and into the play-off places, but amazingly a defeat could see the Reds plummet as low as 9th in the division. It's all to play for, and City supporters are being urged to get behind the team tomorrow afternoon as they look to climb up the league and into a more desirable position.