Second Division: Duffy warns team not to see Stranraer as easy touch

Published on Monday 9 March 2009 22:40

BRECHIN City manager Jim Duffy has told his players to forget all about the poor run of troubled Stranraer, to ensure they take all three points from tonight's match at Glebe Park.

A win would lift Brechin further into the promotion-chasing play-off pack and within seven points of joint leaders Ayr and Raith Rovers, and Duffy said: "We played Stranraer recently and won but they put up a good show, so I am taking nothing for granted tonight.

"Our players will need to go out and earn three points as nothing will be handed to them. Winning breeds confidence and that is what we need going into the final quarter of the season."

Duffy has a full squad to choose from with David White still out with a broken leg.

Bottom side Stranraer's players have been told by manager Keith Knox to keep their heads up even if they lose a quick goal. He said: "Against Ayr on Saturday we gave away a cheap goal, which was bad enough, but what was worse is that some players put their heads down and just hid for the rest of the game. I cannot accept the manner in which some players give up as soon as we go a goal down."

Stranraer will have veteran David Craig in defence again as a trialist and hope that Andy Gibson and Kevin Nicoll are both passed fit to play.

Peterhead will create a four-point gap on fellow promotion hopefuls Stirling Albion if they win at Balmoor against an Arbroath side enjoying a fine run of three wins and two draws in their past five games.

Manager Neale Cooper is tempted to give fit-again Martin Bavidge a start after he returned as a substitute during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Queen's Park.

Arbroath manager John McGlashan is looking to freshen his side after their goalless draw with Brechin on Saturday. He is now able to call on new loan signing from Montrose, Keith Gibson, along with a fit-again Bryan Scott and Barry Sellars, who has finished his ban.

McGlashan said: "We are on a good run and are determined to move further up the table. A point tonight would take us above Alloa but I want to win the game."