From The Other Side
The Official Website’s Craig Anderson talks exclusively to experienced Stirling Albion striker Derek Lilley, ahead of his side’s match at home to Clyde on Saturday …
Stirling v Clyde (6/10/2007)
Derek Lilley insists there is pressure on both teams this week as Clyde travel to Stirling for an “A80/M80” derby. The Binos’ striker is fully aware something has to give as the Bully Wee look to break their duck in terms of away league wins.
It’s a similar story for Allan Moore’s side as well as they have yet to experience a league win at Forthbank this season. But former Leeds, Morton and Dundee United hitman Lilley reckons it’s a vital match for both sides, even at this early stage of the season.
Lilley said: “We haven’t won at home and while we’ve taken a point from our all home games, it’s important we start thinking about turning these draws into wins. Clyde are in a similar position and while they’ve won a couple of games, they’ll want to pull away from the bottom of the league as well.
“You can’t forget that Colin Hendry only arrived at the club in the summer and it’s maybe taken the players a wee bit of time to adapt to his approach. He’s had to take the time to assess the squad and decide who to bring in and perhaps Clyde have been handicapped by that.
“The league is incredibly tight and a win for either side would mean a possible jump into a mid-table position.”
Despite their place at the bottom of the table, only Hamilton, Dundee and St.Johnstone have lost fewer games than Allan Moore’s side. Six draws in their eight league games so far has hindered their progress and that elusive first win of the season is all the incentive they need for Saturday’s match. Conversely the Binos are unbeaten at home which will give Moore some pride and it’s something he will look to maintain.
Lilley though is impressed that Clyde’s two wins have come against Dunfermline and St.Johnstone, two teams regarded as favourites for promotion. He continued: “Clyde have shown they can pick up points and to do it against the two favourites for this league is an amazing thing for them. But they have to start looking at beating the teams round about them because that’s where they can strengthen their league position. Beating teams higher up in the table won’t do them any good, unless they can follow that up with points over teams near them.
“It’s going to be a difficult game, but I think we can benefit from the points more because of our position; plus it would give us a boost before the international break.”
Saturday’s game will be Clyde’s first visit to Forthbank since a 6-3 win over the Binos in a Second Division game back in March 2000. A Jamie Mitchell hat-trick, along with strikes from Jack Ross, Allan Grant and Brian Carrigan sealed an amazing win for the Bully Wee as they fought their way to the title.
Clyde haven’t lost to Stirling in eight previous meetings stretching back to March 1996 and it is a record Colin Hendry will want to increase by Saturday teatime.