Stirling Albion boss Darren Young has called on the Binos fans to help make Forthbank a ‘fortress’ as the League Two promotion race heats up.
Tomorrow’s match against Albion Rovers is the first time Stirling will be playing in front of their home fans since beating Stranraer 1-0 on January 28 – their only home game of 2023 so far.
The match also represents a crucial seven days in the Binos’ season – with home games against the Wee Rovers and bottom side Bonnyrigg Rose sandwiching a rescheduled trip to leaders Dumbarton on Tuesday night.
Stirling head into the match on the back of an unbeaten run stretching seven games and also following a strong first-half performance at Forfar.
Young acknowledged his disappointment at not taking home all three points – but insisted a similar level of performance in future games would secure results.
The gaffer said: “We’re disappointed not to get the three points but it was a very good performance and if we play like that for the rest of the season, then we will be in a good position.
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“We had four or five good chances and we let them off the hook a wee bit because it could have been wrapped up at half-time. The boys we brought in all did well and it was a game that we probably looked at as a point game going in, so it wasn’t too bad a result.
“Dumbarton managed to get their win on Tuesday night after a mistake from Stenny, but we will just worry about ourselves and try to perform week in, week out.”
The Binos have so far yet to beat their Coatbridge visitors in their two meetings so far – with the Cliftonhill side boasting one of the league’s top talents in young winger Charlie Reilly.
He has scored Rovers’ goals in both of the meetings this season and Young admits his side will have to watch him very carefully.
But he is backing the fans to help drive his side to an important win, with the outcome of tomorrow’s match important at both ends of the table.
Young (left) added: “It’s good to have a home game and hopefully the fans can really help us as a 12th man.
“We’ve heard them on the road in the recent games and I can still remember the scenes at both Bonnyrigg and Annan so hopefully we can make our home games count and make Forthbank a bit of a fortress and a place where teams don’t like coming.
“Reilly would be a massive player for any team in this league, his qualities are there to see – he’s quick, can go left and right and is hard to keep pinned down so it’s about not giving him time and
space.
“However, it’s not just about one player and we are keen to go and get that clean sheet.
“If we can capitalise on our chances and be good in both boxes, then that will set us up
well.”
Kick-off at Forthbank is at 3pm.
