Airdrie United vs Stirling Albion preview - Three Diamonds missing

Posted Saturday, September 24, 2011 by PA

Airdrie will again be missing a trio of players when they play host to Stirling.

Paul Lovering, Graeme Goodhall and Alastair Woodburn have been struggling with injuries of late and, subsequently, will be sidelined when Albion come to town.

Diamonds manager Jimmy Boyle is targeting a continuation of good recent form despite his side's midweek Scottish Communities League Cup to Clydesdale Bank Premier outfit Dundee United.

He said: "This will be a tough game as, despite a couple of disappointing results recently, Jocky Scott has Stirling Albion playing well.

"We showed against United in patches what we are capable of and I have to now ask the boys to do that over 90 minutes in a league game.

"We have been inconsistent in the league and hopefully getting a win in this game will set us up for a move up the table."

Stirling will again be without goalkeeper Callum Reidford as they look to avenge their early-season 5-0 Scottish Communities Cup defeat to the Diamonds.

Reidford recently underwent knee surgery and is still not fit to return.

That means he remains on the sidelines alongside Greig MacDonald, Shaun Dillon and Daly McSorle, who all have knocks.

Manager Scott, though, is hoping his side can enjoy more luck than last time the sides met, saying: "We had two players sent off in the last game and gave away two penalties.

"The first one when it was nil-nil and the second sending off was our goalkeeper after we had used all our substitutes, so it was a bit of a strange game.

"We will certainly do better than that if we keep 11 men on the pitch."