Albion Rovers v Stenhousemuir match preview

Sep 16 2011 By Colin Paterson

Paul Martin

IRN-BRU SECOND DIVISION:

ALBION ROVERS v

STENHOUSEMUIR

Cliftonhill, 3pm

ALBION ROVERS are without five players as they look to bounce back from derby-day disaster.

Boss Paul Martin is dealing with more selection problems ahead of tomorrow's league visit of in-form Stenhousemuir.

Captain Ciaran Donnelly and influential midfielder Ryan McStay are both suspended.

Full-back Barry Russell is out as he continues to recover from an appendix operation. Todd Lumsden (calf) and Simon Marriott (knee) are also sidelined through injury.

Mick O'Byrne is not yet match-fit after a knee problem but will play. Ghanaian forward Joseph 'Larry' Acquah could make the substitutes' bench.

Martin is attempting to identify reinforcements and ran the rule over 19-year-old Partick Thistle striker Kieran Burns at training last night.

"We are just going to have to get on with it," said the manager. "We know we don't have the biggest of squads to choose from just now but the team we select will be competitive."

Rovers were thrashed 4-0 by Airdrie last weekend with the wounds largely self-inflicted in the first half.

But Cliftonhill gaffer Martin says it's time to forget about what happened in the derby and concentrate on generating a positive result at home to Stenny.

He added: "We were all disappointed with the result against Airdrie. As a club, we were all disappointed. The errors we made were collective ones which is very unlike us.

"But it's time to look ahead and focus on what will be an important game against Stenhousemuir. We know it will be tough but we have confidence in the players.

"We have aspirations of challenging the teams in the top half of the table and this game provides us with a great opportunity to bounce back.

"Last season, we used our bad days as our inspiration and that is what we will do this season."

Tomorrow's referee: Gary Hilland.