Stirling Albion aim to inflict away-day blues on Citizens after cup thriller
The visitors on Saturday have the second-best away record in League Two - but the Binos will be hoping to reverse that trend and stay amongst the division's top four.
It’s a chance to inflict some away day blues for Stirling Albion tomorrow as they host one of League Two’s top sides on the road in the shape of Edinburgh City.
A rollercoaster of a season for the Citizens began when the sides met on the opening day of the season, fresh off the back of the capital club being deducted 15 points for breaking SPFL rules on insolvency events.
The Binos came out on top on that roasting afternoon at Meadowbank, with Russell McLean’s quickfire double inside the opening 20 minutes steering Stirling to victory despite Robbie Mahon’s late penalty.
Michael McIndoe’s troops have then tried to fight back from their deduction, getting themselves back to the symbolic zero mark ahead of the trip to Forthbank.
On the pitch, that form would have been enough to put them third in the table and the lively group of forwards including Mahon, Innes Lawson and Malik Zaid should pose a shaky-looking Albion defence some issues.
A key part of that form has been their form on the road, with City boasting the second-best away record in League Two after securing 12 of their 15 point tally during their travels.
Both sides come into the contest off the back of Scottish Cup success — albeit in very different circumstances.
For Stirling, it was a heart-stopping thriller away at Caledonian Braves where Adam Brown’s 109th minute winner in extra time dragged the Binos through 4-3 after the Braves had dragged the game to the added 30 minutes with two late goals.
City had a more sedate afternoon for qualification, nudging past the University of Stirling by a single goal at Meadowbank, Lawson’s 37th minute goal securing progress to the third round.
There are Edinburgh connections galore within the Stirling contingent, with both boss Alan Maybury and coach Mark Kerr enjoying stints with City — as well as squad members McLean, Ryan Shanley, Callum Crane and Lee Hamilton.