Strollers boss wants to stay on track against Preston

But, ahead of tomorrow's game with Preston Athletic, joint manager Keith Stewart says he is "definitely not pressing any panic buttons".

Stewart added: "No one at the club is remotely talking about relegation and it's not even an issue for us as far as we are concerned. The Premier Division is a tough league but we are confident that we will move up the table and into a decent position. If we pick up all three points tomorrow we will move up six places, above Preston and into the top half of the league. That's how tight the situation is, mainly because of some strange results already this season."

The Strollers have been beaten in the opening month of the season by both Selkirk (1-3) and Heriot-Watt University (0-2), two teams who they finished above in the league last season.

"These were two bad results," said Stewart. "We did not deserve to win either game and, although Spartans beat us 5-0, we did not play badly. It was just that in almost every Spartans attack they hit the back of the net.

"We actually got off to a great start this season when we won our first game 2-1 away from home against Lothian Thistle but since then we have had injuries, personnel unavailable and we have not played as well as we can. We got back into winning ways with our 1-0 win last Saturday against Ormiston in the Image Printers Cup and although the game was scrappy the result was much-needed. We would like to play beautiful football in every game but sometimes you just have to win ugly. It was a victory which has certainly boosted the players' confidence."

Stewart is now approaching tomorrow's encounter with Preston in more buoyant and optimistic mood. He has goalkeeper Stuart Burnside in very good form while Craig Dickson, who scored the winner against Ormiston, is leading by example and youngster Andrew Raeburn has been very impressive in defence.

"We know that it will be difficult against Preston because they have some decent players," said Stewart. "They lost 6-0 to Selkirk last weekend and I know that they will roll their sleeves up and be right up for this game because no player likes getting beat by that margin. This game is not quite a 'six-pointer' but if we were to lose then we would trail Preston by six points. All we do on the training ground is correct so we just have to transfer that on to the playing pitch. We will certainly not lack effort."

The Strollers will be without Neil Campbell, Liam Jack and Danny Rennie while there are severe doubts surrounding Michael Somerville although Danny Wheelan and John Dunn are available.

Meanwhile, Preston manager Stevie Myatt, who started this season with a small squad of only 16 players, has had acute problems with injuries to key players, especially his two main goalscorers Kevin Haynes and Stuart Miller.

"In three of the five league games, I have had no strikers available," lamented Myatt.

"We beat Heriot-Watt University and Whitehill Welfare with Kevin and Stuart both playing. I desperately need to sign new players, especially up front, and I am hopeful that will be remedied before tomorrow. I have spent hours and hours on the telephone to various players."

Myatt has also been hampered by injuries to his captain Craig Scott, defender Matt Costello and experienced campaigner Lindsay Stewart. "I could go on and on," sighed Myatt, "but what good would it do?" Myatt himself will not be at the game because he is spying on Preston's Scottish Cup opponents, Newton Stewart. "It is very important that we prepare properly for that game so Ian Houston and Billy Byrne will be in charge."

Unless Myatt signs a striker tonight it is likely that Martin Laidlaw and Marc Lothian will play up top and the manager is looking for a reaction from his players after last week's defeat from Selkirk. "I want the players to prove that was a one-off result," he concluded.

The game kicks off at Marine Drive at 2.30pm.