Albion looking to end wait for local bragging rights

Posted Saturday, March 13, 2010 by PA

Stirling Albion will be looking for their first win over neighbours and league leaders Alloa this season when the pair meet for the third time.

Fourth-placed Albion have lost both of their previous fixtures 1-0 and know victory this weekend would close the gap between the two sides to just four points.

Andy Graham will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness while Ross Forsyth is included again after work commitments kept him out of the 1-0 defeat at Brechin during the week.

Hibs frontman Kurtis Byrne has returned to Easter Road after his loan spell and will therefore not feature.

With Albion winless in their last three games, manager Allan Moore is convinced there is only aspect of his side's play that needs improving to see the Forthbank men start winning again.

He said: "Our defence has become more solid since Brian Allison and Jonathan Page came on board and we are creating chances, but we are simply not scoring enough goals."

Alloa will be looking to bounce back from defeat when they make the short trip to Stirling.

The Second Division leaders went down 3-1 to Dumbarton during the week and the loss proved costly, with Scott Walker seeing red and defender Chris Townsley picking up a hamstring injury.

Both players join Scott Buist on the sidelines, who remains out due to injury. Recent signing Kevin Welsh is also unavailable due to work commitments while Andy Scott is doubtful with a knock.

Midfielder John Grant and striker Stuart Noble should return to manager Allan Maitland`s starting line-up.

And Maitland said: "I expect this to be a really open game played by two teams committed to attack. We have won the last two meetings between the sides and it would be excellent to make that three."