Manager on Thursday

Ryan Williamson still out injured and Andy Geggan out through suspension

John Potter has been reviewing the two previous league games against Stirling Albion this season, games that the Pars won 2-0 at Forthbank and 4-0 at East End Park.

"They were resilient, it was their new manager's second game. I thought we played well on the day but they made it difficult for us. They have had a big improvement since Stuart McLaren came in."

McLaren arrived at Stirling from Loughborough University but with a pedigree of managing in Australia at Brisbane Strikers and North Queensland Fury. He took over in November and now finds himself up against the newest manager in League One. When his team's match at Brechin was frozen off, John Potter watched Stirling lose 4-3 at home to Morton. He discussed what he had noticed:-

"They should have been five or six up. They played really well but when they tired late on they lost a few goals through basic errors. Positive going forward, they scored good goals, they are a threat and are quite an attacking team when they flood forward.

"From that point of view we will need to be on our guard at the back. Sammy Cunningham plays just off the striker, we had him watched in the last couple of weeks and they have been good. They are a different proposition than they were earlier on in the season. They have started winning games and trying to climb the league. That is the case for a few teams in the league, Airdrie are another one and it is getting a very tight league apart from Stranraer at the top."

The draw with Peterhead was extremely disappointing when Potter played the video of the match back to the players there were some aspects for him to be pleased with.

"We had some good play but it was just that final wee bit. The hardest thing in football is to score goals, we need to find composure when they get in front of goal. They are choking up at the moment and not doing things naturally. They are sometimes trying to walk the ball into the net.

"I have made the point that we need to get back to shooting that bit more. Sometimes it is a case of getting your head down and smashing it towards goal. We made the point that we need more efforts on goal. If we keep doing it then I am sure that we will start scoring goals soon.

"They are trying to do different things in front of goal whereas if they did go by their first instinct then I am sure that the goal would go in. I am not overly worried about it, but we need to start doing that soon."

The return of Ryan Wallace to the starting line up versus Peterhead was a positive for the manager who continued:-

"He can create chances as well but he is a natural finisher in the box; he can score goals out of nothing. It will take him time to get him fully fit. Matches are a good opportunity to do it. Last week he was tired and that is when we made the change. We have worked all week at building up his sharpness in front of goal especially. He can be a threat if we can get him fit."

Another boost to the team is the signing this week of left back Jim Paterson from Forfar Athletic. He has been impressed by the standard of the Pars in training and that is something that Potter felt his side needs to take into games:-

"He will be good and he gives us a wee bit more. I hope for him to get a bit more out of other players. He can be a steadying influence in our team. If things are going against us he will be out organising and helping on the pitch."

Apart from Ryan Williamson the Pars squad is fit and ready for Saturday but of course Andy Geggan is suspended following his red card against Peterhead. The suspension gives someone else the opportunity to stake a claim:-

"I told Andy right after the game that he had been silly. He knows that and said sorry but if somebody else comes in and plays well then Andy might find himself out of the team. That is what happens."

John Potter had no news on Thursday on the signings front:-

"We are still working on a few things. I know the ones that I would like to get and so if I have to wait for a while then we will wait rather than take some of the players that I get offered every minute of every day. I am not going to sign anybody for the sake of it.

"There is money there for me to get players in but I am going to wait until the ones that I want and the right ones become available. I have a few feelers out; other managers know the players that I am interested in. I'd like to think that will come off, maybe next week."

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