The weather has been wreaking havoc on Stirling Albion in recent weeks – but boss Darren Young believes his side will be looking to pick up where they left off against the league’s form side on Saturday.
The Binos have yet to play a game in 2023, with last weekend’s call-off against Bonnyrigg Rose coming on the back of the postponement of
the previous week’s game at Dumbarton.
Disruption has also been a feature of the Forthbank side’s preparations as Young was forced to scramble about to pull together a training session on Saturday, while a late call-off for their Tuesday session sparked a desperate hunt for facilities.
It’s not the best build-up to a vital home game with Forfar Athletic, who have enjoyed a rapid switch in fortunes under new boss Ray McKinnon and come into the weekend’s match fresh off defeating table-toppers Dumbarton 2-1 last weekend.
After a busy week, Young told the Observer: “We don’t want to miss games and have to play catch up for sure.
“We hopefully should be good for the weekend because it’s been a very frustrating and disappointing period of the season.
“It was too late for us to put together a training session after the Dumbarton call-off, but we had a heads-up on Friday about Bonnyrigg so we managed to get something arranged for Saturday but the conditions were pretty horrendous.
“It’s just pure chance because I think it was only ourselves and Dundee off last weekend so that adds to the frustration.
“We got a call as well for training on Tuesday that the pitch was closed and we wouldn’t be able to use it so we were scrambling about looking for anywhere in the central belt, indoor or outdoor, that we would be able to use.”
The enforced hiatus from action has been bittersweet for the Binos squad-wise, with defender Adam Cummins back in training after a long injury lay-off, but defender Jordan McGregor is still to serve a one-match suspension in place from after the Stenhousemuir game.
Forfar are set to provide a stiff test as Albion attempt to knock off the rust – but Saturday provides a chance for the home side to make up some ground in the league with Dumbarton away on Scottish Cup duty.
Young added: “We had a great Christmas and New Year with winning up at Elgin and then beating Stenny in the derby.
“Since Ray came in, Forfar have been the form team in the division.
“He’s signed three or four since he went in and they’ve went from near the bottom of the table to the edge of the playoffs so that shows you how tight the league is.”
Albion host Forfar at Forthbank tomorrow. Kick off is 3pm.
