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Stirling boss insists belief remains high in squad despite fifth straight loss

Derek Gaston parries away a Connor Young free kick - but it was a difficult afternoon for the hosts
-Credit: (Image: Graham Hamilton)


Under-fire Stirling Albion boss Alan Maybury slammed his side for being “outfought” in their 3-0 home defeat to Edinburgh City – but believes they are still on track.

The Binos slipped to a fifth straight defeat in all competitions after a poor defeat at Forthbank against the Citizens, who leapfrogged them into fourth place in League Two as a result of the win.

Connor Young’s superb free kick opened the scoring for the visitors, before another Young effort from distance caused havoc in the Stirling area for Dylan Wells to notch his first Edinburgh goal.

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Ouzy See’s late third put a deserved gloss on the scoreline for the side from the capital – meaning it was to be no happy reunion for Maybury against the side he used to lead from the dugout.

The final whistle was met with a smattering of boos from those still left in the ground, summing up a low mood around the club.

Former Stirling keeper Mark Weir punches away under pressure
Former Stirling keeper Mark Weir punches away under pressure

Maybury said: “We’re frustrated because we’re better than we showed today.

“We said during the week that we had a couple of games where we had been the better team in the first half and then fallen away in the second but today we were outfought and outworked and just failed to show any quality at all.

“We just didn’t get going from the start, we’ve given away to goals from free-kicks which was something we spoke about, we knew Connor Young had that quality to do what he did. We’ve also missed five chances from inside the six-yard line, we knew they give up chances but we weren’t good enough in both boxes.

Ally Roy misses a gilt-edged chance for the hosts
Ally Roy misses a gilt-edged chance for the hosts -Credit:Graham Hamilton

“They have two free kicks and a counter-attack goal and we’ve had those chances in their box, so I understand it doesn’t feel like there’s much to shout about, but it’s my job to take the positives from things. There’s no drama for me, we started this quarter really well – we’re not a million miles away. But it is still new and there will be tough days like this, I know that because I walked in here with eight players, two of which have already moved on.”

Things don’t get any easier for the Binos, who now face the daunting task of a trip to Moray to take on an Elgin side stung by losing top spot to East Fife in a fiery encounter last week.

Ricky Waugh tries to round keeper Weir on a rare opening for the hosts
Ricky Waugh tries to round keeper Weir on a rare opening for the hosts

The Black and Whites have not lost this season at Borough Briggs, with the Stirling boss keen to spread the message that his players are still up for the fight ahead of the long journey north.

“If we were Chelsea or Manchester United, maybe we would get that time to put things together but because we’re Stirling Albion, we have to win every week.

“It’s all new here, I’m new and I came in later than all of the managers because of the process which took place here and players moved on during that time and we’ve done a great job to set where we’ve been in fourth before today.
“We stick together and I believe in what I’m trying to do and the boys do as well.”