Stranraer vs Livingston - Reid hopes Thomson and McGuigan will be available

Posted Tuesday, May 03, 2016 by PA

Stranraer manager Brian Reid will give Ryan Thomson and Mark McGuigan every opportunity to prove their fitness ahead of their Ladbrokes Championship play-off semi-final first leg against Livingston.

The pair both picked up knocks as the Blues ended their regular season in League One with victory over Cowdenbeath on Saturday.

Reid, who is definitely without player/assistant manager Lee Mair due to a groin issue, said: "We are the second favourites in this tie and to do anything we need our strongest team on the park so I hope Ryan and Mark make it.

"There is pressure associated with a game like this but the vast majority of it is on the team from the higher league. We can therefore look to enjoy the experience and play in a creative way."

Livingston will be without Gary Glen who has a groin injury.

However Darren Cole and Ben Gordon could return after knocks for Livi, who finished six points behind eighth-placed Dumbarton at the conclusion of the Championship.

Manager David Hopkin is wary of Stranraer, saying: "Stranraer have experienced creative players who will relish a game like this. They also have a number of players who can score goals so we have to be on our guard.

"Nothing will be decided in this meeting. We want to achieve a score that gives us of getting through in the second leg. We have played well in our games against Rangers and Raith Rovers and we have to perform at those levels again."