Midfielder Kyle Fleming has stressed Stranraer will be going all out for a win on Saturday at New Douglas Park.
Just three points separate Stranraer and Bonnyrigg Rose from Clyde at the foot of the League Two table.
No team will be destined to finish bottom at the end of the season regardless of the result tomorrow but the destination of the points could go a long way in determining who is club 42.
Fleming said: “We have spoken all season that we do not want to play for draws or sit in.
“We need to find the next goal.
“The gaffer has said that all season.
“We will definitely not go looking for a draw.
“We will look to win the game like we do in every game.
“We will not be wanting to sit back but our away form has not been great.
“I think we need to work out the reason for that and we have been trying to find the answers.
“Tomorrow, hopefully, it turns for us.”
Fleming, who joined the club in the summer from Albion Rovers, acknowledged there was no getting away from the fact it was a big game against the Bully Wee.
He stressed the players were aware of everything that was at stake and they needed to put a good performance in to ensure they got a positive result.
The Blues put in a good performance the last time the two sides met at Stair Park.
Goalless at the break, Fleming opened the scoring before Finn Ecrepont’s memorable long-distance strike settled the contest.
However, since then, they have taken just five points from a possible 24, with the only victory coming in a memorable 5-0 demolition of Dumbarton.
Fleming, who has featured in 36 of Stranraer’s 39 games, said: “It has been massively frustrating.
“We have not had the consistency all season.
“It has been one good result and then maybe two or three poor ones.
“It has been a struggle to put a good run together.
“If you do put a good run together, you find yourself climbing the table quite quickly.”
Last meeting
Second half goals saw Stranraer pick up all three points at Stair Park in February.
A nervy first half gave way to a more open second period. The visitors came close to scoring when Lewis Budinauckas had to be out quick to deny Alex King and Jordan Allan could not turn the rebound home.
Fifteen minutes from time and Stranraer found their breakthrough. Matty Grant did well in picking out Kyle Fleming, who turned neatly before firing beyond Neil Parry.
With time running out, the hosts wrapped up the scoring in spectacular fashion. Parry thumped the ball long but Stranraer gained possession and Finn Ecrepont returned the ball towards goal with the Clyde number one out of position. The shot from fully 70 yards had Parry scrambling but he was unable to get back in time and Stranraer took the win.
Stranraer: Budinauckas, Robertson, Girvan, Ross, McQueen, Ecrepont, Dolan, Forrest, Fleming, Grant, Orr (Lang 64).
Not used: Williamson, Armour, Johnston, Gilmartin and Downie.
Clyde: Parry, Lyon, Hamilton, Dunachie, Cuddihy (Grant 59), Scullion (Rennie 59), Ballantyne (Cameron 80), Howie, King, Young (Kabia 46), Allan (Leitch 80).
Not used: McGinn, Sula, Hynes and Kinnear.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 2 Clyde 0 (Fleming and Ecrepont) at Stair Park on February 10, 2024
- Clyde 2 Stranraer 2 (Rennie and Scullion; Ross and Dolan) at New Douglas Park on December 9, 2023
- Stranraer 1 Clyde 0 (McDonald) at Stair Park on August 26, 2023
- Clyde 1 Stranraer 0 (Goodwillie (Pen)) at Broadwood Stadium on July 13, 2021
- Clyde 3 Stranraer 3 (Goodwillie x3 (Pen x1); Elliott x2 and Allan) at Broadwood Stadium on January 4, 2020
Last five games
Stranraer
- DRAW v Bonnyrigg Rose (H): 1-1 (Lang)
- LOSS v East Fife (A): 2-1 (Grant)
- LOSS v Elgin City (H): 1-2 (Own goal)
- LOSS v Peterhead (A): 2-0
- WIN v Dumbarton (H): 5-0 (Own goal, Grant, Forrest, Armour and Lang)
Clyde
- LOSS v Peterhead (A): 4-1 (Leitch)
- DRAW v Spartans (H): 0-0
- WIN v Bonnyrigg Rose (A): 1-2 (Allan x2)
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (A): 2-1 (Scullion)
- WIN v Elgin City (H): 2-1 (Allan x2)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Bonnyrigg Rose: Budinauckas, Robertson, Williamson, Ross, McQueen, Armour (Gilmartin 78), Gallagher (Fleming 82), Hawkshaw (Orr 78), Forrest, Grant (Dolan 66), Lang.
Not used: Ecrepont, McIntosh, Miller and Downie.
Clyde
Lineup v Peterhead: Kinnear, Hamilton, McGinn (Leitch 46), Sula (Grant 46), Cuddihy (Dunachie 65), Scullion, Ballantyne (Young 78), Howie, King, Rennie (Kabia 46), Allan.
Not used: Lyon, Cameron, Hynes and Kennedy.
Five facts
1. Alan Lansdowne was the last man to score a winning goal in a league contest away from Stair Park between Stranraer and Clyde. His strike 10 minutes from time in May 1998 saw the Blues round off the season undefeated against the Broadwood side. The Stranraer team that day was: Matthews, Black, Campbell, Knox, Watson, Johnstone, Lansdowne, McAulay, English (Friels 78), Kinnaird, Young (Crawford 81). Not used: Duffy.
2. Stranraer’s last win away to Clyde came in a League Challenge Cup contest in 2017. Martin McNiff and Smart Osadolor had the hosts two goals up before a Scott Agnew penalty. Jordan Stewart then put into his own net before Ryan Wallace scored an extra time winner. The game also marked the first time that Stranraer had made a fourth substitution when Jamie Hamill replaced Agnew.
3. Stranraer have scored in their last nine league contests against Clyde. The last time they drew a blank was a goalless draw at the beginning of October 2011.
4. Thursday 4 April marked the 34th birthday of former Stranraer and Clyde goalkeeper David Mitchell. The shotstopper joined the Blues, originally on loan from Ayr United, in 2009 and clocked up more than 200 appearances over the course of six seasons. A move to Dundee was followed by a spell at Falkirk and then onto the Bully Wee. He made 68 appearances for Clyde before joining Hibs. Now at Partick Thistle, he kept a clean sheet against Inverness Caledonian Thistle last weekend.
5. Goals from Michael Moore and Ian Harty saw Stranraer win at New Douglas Park, Clyde’s current home, on 18 March 2003. Ally Graham had put Hamilton Academicals in front on 10 minutes. However, Moore and Harty had turned the game on its head within eight minutes.
Admission
Clyde have lowered their adult ticket prices on a one-off basis, in an attempt to boost the attendance at New Douglas Park.
Admission has been reduced from £17 to £10 for adults, and remains at £5 for under 18s.
You can find further matchday info via the Clyde website.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
