Boyle prepares Airdrie for tough Alloa test

Posted Saturday, October 16, 2010 by PA

Airdrie boss Jimmy Boyle will send his men out to grab their first home league win of the season against an Alloa side he rates as the toughest opponents to visit Lanarkshire this season.

Defender Ewan Grant is available again after suspension, however recent signing Eddie Forrest sits out the final game of the three-match ban he picked up in his East Stirling days.

The Diamonds have drawn all three of their home matches this season.

And Boyle said: "To win this game would be a great achievement as Alloa have a side packed with good experienced players.

"It is the hardest test our guys have faced at home this season, however we faced another really good side Livingston away and were unlucky to go down 2-1."

Alloa boss Allan Maitland will be without midfielder Brown Ferguson and striker Stuart Noble.

Maitland is determined to see his side boost their promotion bid by replicating their home form on their travels.

He said: "Our home form is really good but we need to improve our points tally away from Recreation Park.

"At the start of the season I would have thought this would be a game we could pick up three points in without being at our best, but that is not the case as Airdrie have been doing really well.

"They have youth and enthusiasm in abundance and Jimmy Boyle deserves great credit for gelling a team together so quickly. We need to play at our best to get the three points."