Defender Lewis Reid has said Stranraer need to cope with the pressure if they are to pick up three points.
The Blues have picked up away wins over East Fife and Edinburgh City in recent weeks, along with a point at home to Peterhead.
However, they have lost twice to a Forfar Athletic side battling to avoid finishing bottom of League Two.
Now, Stranraer welcome a Clyde team who are not quite safe just yet and will also be keen to pick up victory to ease any nerves of finishing as Club 42.
Speaking after the full time whistle following the 1-0 defeat to Forfar last weekend, he said: “It is so frustrating.
“It is easy going up to East Fife when the pressure is off and nobody expects you to get a result.
“When you come down to Stair Park, a lot of people expect you to possibly win.
“We just never got started.
“The service to the strikers was poor and we just did not get our passing game going.
“Although the pitch is not great, we should still be doing a lot better than how we did.”
The central defender was expecting Clyde to be a similar proposition to Forfar and they would need to battle hard to ensure the three points remained in Wigtownshire.
Reid has become a key figure in central defence alongside Craig Ross, especially with Adam Cummins out injured.
The on-loan Queen’s Park man almost joined him on the injury list after taking a sore one in the midweek contest with Forfar earlier this year.
And despite many, including manager Chris Aitken, thinking Reid could miss a few games, the defender has battled on.
He said: “I came off in that game and, basically, my ankle was twice the normal size.
“I thought I would get it iced and try to get the swelling down as much as possible.
“It got to the Friday and I thought I could manage it.
“It got the game at the weekend, the swelling had gone down and I just said to the manager ‘I’m playing’.”
The 20-year-old is “loving it” at Stair Park and particularly playing alongside Ross, who will make appearance 150 if selected against Clyde.
Reid said: “You can always rely on Craigy.
“He is always there, he wins every header and he is always there covering you.
“If you make a mistake, he is there.
“You saw in the first half that I made a wee mistake and he was there blocking the shot.”
Last meeting
Clyde picked up all three points when the two sides met earlier this year.
Stranraer had half chances with the scores blank before Josh Lane was called into action to keep out former Stranraer man Ross Lyon.
The opening goal was part self inflicted by Stranraer. Sean Docherty and Mark Russell collided deep in the Clyde half before the home side broke forward. Stranraer never recovered and Martin Rennie cut into the box to slot home.
Clyde looked the more likely to find the game’s second goal and Ryan Edgar’s backpass was too short, which allowed the hosts to run through on goal. Scott Williamson collected the ball, rounded the keeper and made it two.
Clyde: Hemfrey, Robson, Hamilton (Dunachie 41), Howie, Lyon, Cuddihy, Scullion, Grant, Murdoch, Sutherland (Williamson 74), Rennie (Hynes 83).
Not used: Hannah, A Trialist, D Docherty, B Trialist, Connell and Kennedy.
Stranraer: Lane, Robertson, Brindley, Ross, S Docherty, Reid, Gallagher, Dunlop (Quigg 84), Russell (Grant 63), Foster (Guthrie 63), Edgar.
Not used: Ecrepont, McKnight and Kane.
Last five meetings
- Clyde 2 Stranraer 0 (Rennie and Williamson) at New Douglas Park on February 8, 2025
- Stranraer 1 Clyde 1 (Russell (Pen); Allan) at Stair Park on December 28, 2024
- Clyde 1 Stranraer 0 (Grant) at New Douglas Park on August 10, 2024
- Clyde 1 Stranraer 0 (Allan) at New Douglas Park on April 6, 2024
- Stranraer 2 Clyde 0 (Fleming and Ecrepont) at Stair Park on February 10, 2024
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (H): 0-1
- WIN v East Fife (A): 0-3 (Hawkshaw (Pen) and Lang x2)
- DRAW v Peterhead (H): 0-0
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (H): 1-2 (Edgar)
- WIN v Edinburgh City (A): 0-1 (Ross)
Clyde
- WIN v Bonnyrigg Rose (H): 3-1 (Rennie and Williamson x2)
- LOSS v Elgin City (A): 2-0
- LOSS v East Fife (H): 1-2 (Rennie (Pen))
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (A): 0-1 (Howie)
- LOSS v Spartans (H): 0-2
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Forfar Athletic: Kane, Robertson (Brindley 46), Ross, Ecrepont, Reid, Hawkshaw, Quigg, McKnight (Russell 62), Grant (Dunlop 74), Lang (Foster 74), Edgar (Guthrie 62).
Not used: Docherty and Lane.
Clyde
Lineup v Bonnyrigg Rose: Kennedy, Robson, Howie, Dunachie, R Lyon, D Lyon (Bradley 89), Docherty (Hannah 87), Murdoch, Sutherland (Hynes 87), Rennie (Connell 89), Leitch (Williamson 72).
Not used: Hamilton, Scullion and Hemfrey.
Five facts
1. Clyde come into the game having defeated Bonnyrigg Rose last weekend. So far this season, they have only won back-to-back games once, with a 3-1 win over East Fife followed by a 3-2 victory over Peterhead.
2. Former Stranraer full-back John Robertson turns 49 on Friday. The defender played more than 65 games for the Blues between 1994 and 1997 before joining Ayr United. He would play for the Honest Men in three separate spells and also featured for Oxford United, St Johnstone, Ross County, Hamilton Academical and Partick Thistle.
3. Stranraer have taken more than double the points off of East Fife this season (nine) than the bottom three teams – Clyde, Forfar Athletic and Bonnyrigg Rose – combined (four).
4. Clyde have not won in the league at Stair Park since February 2006. On that occasion, they did it in style as Roddy Hunter scored a first half hat-trick while future Stranraer defender Romauld Bouadji also found the net. Hunter added number five after the interval to wrap up the win.
5. Captain Craig Ross will make appearance 150 for Stranraer on Saturday – if selected. The defender has scored 13 times since making his debut against, fittingly, Clyde. A David Goodwillie penalty was the difference between the sides. The Stranraer team on July 13, 2021 was: Lyle, Robertson, Burns, Ross, McIntosh, Millar, Gallagher, Josh Walker (Woods 71), Moore (Irving 85), Muir (Rennie 60), Yates (Hawkshaw 71). Not used: Sonkur, Langan and Jamie Walker.
Admission
Admission in the Eco Gen Stadium at Stair Park is ‘pay at the gate’ only. Season tickets are valid for Saturday’s game.
Away fans can enter the ground from the away turnstile opposite the main stand. This turnstile is cash only.
The following pricing applies:
- Adult – £15
- Concession (over 65) – £10
- Youth (5 to 16) – £5
- Under 5 – FREE
Better Lives Partnership
Our friends at Better Lives Partnership will be collecting before the match and at half time, raising money to help support autistic young adults and those with additional support needs.
Please give generously if you can.
Merchandise
All three 2024/25 Mizuno kits are available from the merchandise hut outside the main McLeans Taxis Stand, along with training tops, clothing, scarves and club ties.
Cash and card payments are accepted and we open from 1.30pm.
You can also purchase a range of merchandise online.
Pavilion Bar
Pop into the Pavilion Bar outside the away turnstile from 1pm for a pre-match refreshment with fellow fans.
Home, away and neutral supporters are warmly welcomed, and the bar accepts both cash and card.
Or, stop off at the Stranraer FC Fitba’ Bar on North Strand Street in the town centre, which is also open to all.
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 from 10pm on Saturday night, along with full match footage later on Sunday.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with Brian Martin joined by Cameron Ritchie on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
