It has been a long few months for Stranraer striker Sallu Turay.
The fans’ favourite had to be helped from the pitch after 82 minutes during his last visit to Meadowbank Stadium.
The hamstring injury suffered in October kept him sidelined over the festive period before he, finally, returned to the bench last time out against Elgin City.
And, even though he did not get on during the 2-1 defeat, the frontman was delighted to be back involved.
He said: “It felt amazing.
“It has been a long four or five months.
“It has been difficult but I have good people around me, helping me through it.
“I am back now and I am feeling stronger and getting fitter every day.
“Kirsten (physiotherapist) and Nicole (sports scientist), the gaffer and the coaching team have helped me get back up to fitness.
“It has been difficult – not just physically but mentally as well.”
The summer signing’s return could scarcely have come at a better time.
Saturday’s trip to Edinburgh City marks the start of a hectic period for Chris Aitken’s side.
Dumbarton, East Kilbride, two games with Clyde and a trip to Annan Athletic will all be contested before the end of the month.
The manager will have to utilise his full squad during the busy period as he attempts to steer them towards securing a promotion play-off place.
The returning striker said: “It is going to take every single player.
“We have got quite a big squad, a very strong squad, and anybody in the squad could come in and make an impact.
“We need every single player and we have got three games in eight days coming up.
“You are going to need absolutely everybody in the squad.”
The first game comes at Meadowbank Stadium, where Stranraer, arguably, served up one of their best performances of the campaign.
A Finn Ecrepont double, either side of a Daniel McManus goal, helped the visitors to a 3-1 win and three much-needed points.
But while Stranraer are now desperate for three points in the race for the top four, Edinburgh City are equally keen to secure a win in their bid to avoid a 10th place finish.
Former Partick Thistle striker Turay said: “Saturday is massive.
“We need to focus on ourselves but Edinburgh are near the bottom and fighting with Dumbarton to stay up.
“It is a massive game for them as well.”
Last meeting
The new year began with the spoils shared at Stair Park as Deryn Lang cancelled out Bradley Barrett’s opener.
It was the visitors who opened the scoring as Barrett diverted a Greig Allen corner beyond Josh Lane from close range.
Sean Docherty called Mark Weir into action and the goalkeeper was beaten as Dominic Plank struck the outside of the post.
Weir then denied Lang and Mark Russell early in the second half before Stranraer got the all important second goal. A ball into the box was flicked on and Lang was alone at the back post to head home.
Stranraer: Lane, Ecrepont, Reid, Rough, Docherty (Dunne 77), Dolan (Cleland 63), Russell (Quigg 77), Plank (Hunter 87), McManus, Gillies (Hughes 87), Lang.
Not used: McKnight and Henderson.
Edinburgh City: Weir, Walker, Mitchell (Lynch 88), Allen, Sula, Lawson, Myles, Barrett, Duncan (McDonald 71), Stokes, Mahon (Guthrie 84).
Not used: Service, Brodie, Scally and Marinovic.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 1 Edinburgh City 1 (Lang; Barrett) at Stair Park on January 3, 2026
- Edinburgh City 1 Stranraer 3 (Lawson; Ecrepont x2 and McManus) at Meadowbank Stadium on October 18, 2025
- Stranraer 1 Edinburgh City 2 (Russell (Pen); Duncan and Barrett) at Stair Park on August 9, 2025
- Edinburgh City 0 Stranraer 0 (Edinburgh City win 5-3 on penalties) at Meadowbank Stadium on July 19, 2025
- Stranraer 2 Edinburgh City 0 (Guthrie and Lang) at Stair Park on April 19, 2025
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Elgin City (H): 1-2 (Cleland)
- WIN v Spartans (H): 2-1 (Cleland and Quigg)
- DRAW v Annan Athletic (H): 0-0
- DRAW v Stirling Albion (A): 1-1 (Lang)
- WIN v East Kilbride (A): 0-2 (Dolan and Cleland)
Edinburgh City
- DRAW v Forfar Athletic (H): 0-0
- LOSS v Elgin City (A): 3-0
- LOSS v Clyde (A): 5-0
- DRAW v Spartans (A): 0-0
- LOSS v East Kilbride (H): 0-2
Last time out
Stranraer v Elgin City: Currie, Reid, McGrath, Dunne (Docherty 69), Coll, McKnight (Quigg 59), Plank (Hughes 84), McManus (Dolan 69), Gillies, Lang, Cleland (O’Donnell 69).
Not used: Ecrepont, Hunter, Turay and Tas.
Edinburgh City v Forfar Athletic: Weir, Mitchell, McQueen, Allen (Sula 30), Lyon, Lawson, Zaid, C Williams, D Williams, Stokes, See.
Not used: McDonald, Brodie, Guthrie, Iserhienrhien and Marinovic.
Five facts
- Dean Cleland’s goal in the 17th minute was the first time Stranraer have scored in that minute since Craig Ross scored against Cowdenbeath in March 2022.
- Edinburgh City are without a goal in 493 minutes of competitive football. Innes Lawson scored the last goal, away to Dumbarton in a 2-1 win on January 31.
- Stranraer have won the last four league meetings against Edinburgh City in the capital. However, Edinburgh City have won the last two meetings in the cup in the capital.
- Full-back Sean Burns only scored twice for Stranraer – coming in the space of six days in March 2022. His second came at Edinburgh City and proved to be the winner in a 2-1 victory (Craig Ross also scored). Burns also featured against Edinburgh City this season as he was part of the Camelon Juniors team that knocked them out of the Scottish Cup. The Stranraer team in the 2-1 win at Ainslie Park was: Scullion, Burns, Sonkur, Ross, McIntosh, Brady, Gallagher, Watson (Walker 80), Woods (Hilton 85), Hawkshaw (Yates 80), Muir (Mullen 89). Not used: Robertson, Ellis, Smith and Baker.
- Only one league contest between Stranraer and Edinburgh City has finished goalless and that was at Stair Park in December 2024.
Admission
Supporters can purchase tickets via the home club’s ticketing platform.
Podcast
Catch the latest edition of Look Blues Talking for an extended chat with goalkeeping trio Max Currie, Lyndon Tas and Jim Low, plus all the talking points ahead of away trips to Edinburgh and Dumbarton.
Coverage
If you’re further afield, follow our live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter).
The manager’s post-match reaction will be available on YouTube following the game.
Club 1870 subscribers get a first look at the goals on Saturday night, along with full match footage.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Colin Poultney (Collarge Images)
