Confidence is key when it comes to Stranraer and Deryn Lang.
The striker is hoping to hand manager Chris Aitken a welcome selection headache on Saturday in time for the clash with League Two leaders East Fife.
Lang has not featured since he limped off in the first half against Stirling Albion at the end of last year.
However, he returned to training on Thursday night and is eager to get back in the team and back among the goals.
Speaking about the change in management, Lang said: “I feel as if I my confidence has skyrocketed.
“As you know, it is like every player, when you have confidence, a high belief in yourself, then performances come with that.
“Confidence is key.
“I think, personally, I have been happy-ish with my performances and since the gaffer came in they have been quite consistent.
“I am maybe not scoring as much as I want but the effort and the hard work is there.
“The only thing missing is goals and that comes as time progresses.”
Lang has found the net four times this campaign, putting him behind only Elliot Dunlop and Mark Russell in the Stranraer goalscoring stakes.
However, it is not just in terms of finding the net that he has proved a useful weapon for the Stranraer management team.
His endeavours have helped create four goals – again, only behind Dunlop – for team-mates as well.
Those attributes have been missed in the games against Clyde and Peterhead and since he came off at Forthbank.
He said: “During the Stirling game, I was running at full sprint and I don’t really know what happened.
“I tried to sidestep while sprinting and got a slight tear in my hamstring.
“I was back in training this week and my rehab has been going well.
“I was back training with the boys on Thursday and will be in the team selection on Saturday and getting back into the swing of things.”
His return could not come at a better time as the Blues welcome East Fife to Stair Park, with games in hand to be played as well.
The league leaders have tasted defeat just once in their last seven games – a 1-0 defeat to Peterhead in mid-December.
Lang encouraged the team to stop conceding “silly goals” and felt the club could climb the table.
Last meeting
Max Guthrie had already had an effort ruled out for offside before the frontman got his name on the scoresheet at Bayview Stadium.
Deryn Lang outmuscled the defender before seeing Liam McFarlane get a hand to his shot. Fortunately, the ball dropped kindly to Guthrie, who had an easy tap-in.
That was all that separated the sides at the break, with Robbie Mutch pulling off a string of good saves to keep the Blues in front.
The equaliser came from a corner when Andy Munro rose highest to head home from inside the six-yard box.
The hosts had chances to win it but, positively, Stranraer would go and get a winner. Ryan Edgar did well on the left and saw his shot deflected onto the post before it fell for Matty Grant to score from close range.
East Fife: McFarlane, Murdoch, Slattery (Trouten 72), Peggie, Munro, Millar, McManus, Norey, Healy (Laaref 46), Shepherd, Austin (Walker 56).
Not used: Briggs, Docherty, Winn and Fleming.
Stranraer: Mutch, Robertson (Grant 61), Ross, McQueen (Cummins 68), Reid, Gallagher, Hawkshaw (Brindley 77), Ecrepont (Dunlop 77), Russell, Guthrie (Edgar 77), Lang.
Not used: McKnight, Adam and Pazikas.
Last five meetings
- East Fife 1 Stranraer 2 (Munro; Guthrie and Grant) at Bayview Stadium on November 9, 2024
- Stranraer 2 East Fife 1 (Russell x2; Trouten) at Stair Park on September 14, 2024
- East Fife 2 Stranraer 1 (Lyon and Healy; Grant) at Bayview Stadium on March 23, 2024
- Stranraer 0 East Fife 1 (Austin) at Stair Park on January 27, 2024
- East Fife 4 Stranraer 0 (Millar, Austin, McManus and Newton) at Bayview Stadium on October 21, 2023
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Peterhead (A): 0-1
- DRAW v Clyde (H): 1-1 (Russell (Pen))
- DRAW v Stirling Albion (A): 1-1 (Russell)
- DRAW v Edinburgh City (H): 0-0
- WIN v The Spartans (A): 1-3 (Dunlop and Russell x2)
East Fife
- WIN v Clyde (H): 3-0 (Norey, Trouten and Laaref)
- WIN v Edinburgh City (A): 2-4 (Shepherd, Trouten x2 and Healy)
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (H): 1-0 (Trouten (Pen))
- WIN v The Spartans (H): 5-1 (Trouten x2 (Pen x1), McManus, Shepherd and Millar)
- LOSS v Peterhead (A): 1-0
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Peterhead: Kane, Robertson, Brindley (A Trialist 67), Ross, Reid, Gallagher, McKnight (Edgar 77), Ecrepont, Grant, Russell, Foster (Guthrie 67).
Not used: Cummins, McIntosh and Lane.
East Fife
Lineup v Clyde: McFarlane, Murdoch, Easton, Peggie, Munro, Millar, McManus, Norey (Slattery 89), Trouten, Healy (Laaref 79), Shepherd (B Trialist 79).
Not used: Briggs, Docherty, Winn and Fleming.
Five facts
1. Fans need to cast their minds back to 2011 for the last time Stranraer played on January 18. Even then, it is unlikely it stuck in the memory as Stranraer drew 0-0 at Ochilview in a Scottish Cup clash with Stenhousemuir. In contrast, the replay seven days later proved a seven goal thriller. Armand Oné scored a double, Craig Malcolm and Paul Murphy found the net for the Blues while Scott Dalziel and Ross Clark scored either side of an own goal. Stranraer’s reward was a home draw with Motherwell.
2. Former Stranraer number one Luke Scullion celebrates his birthday on Friday. He came through the youth system at Rangers before moving to Partick Thistle and onto Stranraer. He made 52 appearances for the Blues before moving to Broomhill in the Scottish Lowland Football League. Now, with Johnstone Burgh, he turns 23.
3. The last three meetings between Stranraer and East Fife have finished 2-1. In more than 100 meetings between the two sides, there has never been another occasion where three consecutive games have finished by the same scoreline.
4. Matty Grant scored against East Fife last time out and he was also on target the last time the Blues kept a clean sheet against the Methil team. That came in February 2023 when the Blues won 2-0 at Stair Park, with James Hilton joining Grant on the scoresheet. The home side that day was: Connelly, Robertson, Ross, Watt, McIntosh, Brady, Hilton (Duffy 88), Gallagher, Ngandu, Grant, Brown (Walker 85). Not used: Malcolm and O’Connor.
5. Experienced frontman Alan Trouten has scored in his last four games for East Fife. The last time he bettered that was at the end of 2017. Playing for Albion Rovers, he scored seven goals in six games. He netted against East Kilbride, Ayr United, a double against Stranraer, and further strikes against East Fife, Queen’s Park and Airdrie.
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
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.
Our usual highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with the dream team of Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin reuniting on commentary after three weeks apart.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
