MacKay aims to fix Binos’defence for Ainslie Park
Stirling Albion manager Dave Mackay knows his side have to tighten up at the back if they are to take anything from tomorrow’s game against Edinburgh City at Ainslie Park.
The Binos have yet to get a point on the board in Ladbrokes League 2 after losing 1-0 at Berwick and 3-0 at home to Clyde and were beaten 3-1 by Alloa in the IRN-BRU Cup in midweek.
Albion’s only win in any competition since defeating Elgin back in March was 2-0 at Peterhead in the Betfred Cup last month but they have failed to push on since that result.
Edinburgh City lost 1-0 at Elgin on Saturday but kicked off their campaign with a 4-0 thrashing of Albion Rovers and beat the same team 3-1 in the capital in Tuesday’s IRN-BRU Cup tie with former Binos Blair Henderson and Scott Shepherd getting the goals.
It was 2-2 when the teams last met in Edinburgh back in March but James McDonaugh’s side may fancy their chances on the artificial surface given Albion’s recent struggles.
Mackay pulled no punches after the midweek derby defeat, which was Albion’s eighth loss in a row against their local rivals.
He said: “It was a really poor performance. Right from the kick-off we looked a mile off it. Alloa played very well but we made them look so much better. Our pressing wasn’t there – we were sitting off them and allowing them to play through us.
“We’ve got some experienced players who need to help some of those younger boys at the moment but we just seemed to accept it. The IRN-BRU Cup wasn’t a priority but you are looking for a reaction after a poor performance at the weekend and we didn’t get it.
“We made a tactical change in the first half, which is why we took Kyle Banner off. We were getting passed to death by Alloa - they basically went with a front four at times and we had a back three and were getting outnumbered.
“We changed it a bit and it was harsh on Kyle because it was nothing to do with the way he was playing.
“We did it to try and make us more solid but ultimately it didn’t happen because we conceded two goals before half-time, which were down to individual mistakes.”
He added: “We then conceded another goal right after half-time which makes it game over.
“We showed a bit of fight after that but it’s easy to do when you are 3-0 down and I’m not papering over the cracks – it was a poor night for us.
“We’ll be showing the boys the video. It’s all right me telling them but they need to see it for themselves.
“They are making basic, silly errors and we need to cut that out our game.
“We need a reaction and we all need to be better. I’m accountable because I signed these players but we all need to work hard to get out of this predicament.
“The one shining light is that it’s early in the season so it’s not a disaster but it could soon become one if we continue like this.”
Darren Barr and Darren Smith will again miss out tomorrow as they continue their recovery from injury but could be involved against Peterhead at Forthbank next weekend if they continue to make progress.
Meanwhile, former Hearts and Clyde midfielder John Neill, who had hoped to invest in Stirling Albion but took his bid off the table at the start of the season, has signed for Berwick Rangers and made his debut in the 3-0 defeat to Airdrieonians in the Betfred Cup on Tuesday night.