Defender Edin Lynch is calling for Stranraer to put Tuesday behind them as they prepare to take on Falkirk.
The Premiership side will prove a tough test for Chris Aitken’s men, who are looking for a good performance and positive result ahead of the League Two campaign getting under way next weekend.
The Blues come into the game on the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to Edinburgh City.
First half goals from Jack Leitch and Tommy North proved the difference.
Speaking less than 24 hours after the loss, Lynch said: “I think it was probably a tale of two halves.
“In the first half, we certainly were not at the races and in the second half I think we started to look a little bit more like ourselves.
“However, I think it is fair to say that was not our best performance and we will look to put it behind us now and move forward.
“We probably will look at it and analyse it and make sure that we do improve.
“Ultimately, football moves quite quickly and we know that we have got a game coming up on Saturday.
“We will be back to a positive frame of mind from today onwards and look to try to tackle that new challenge.”
Stranraer had looked impressive against Ayr United and Alloa Athletic, pushing their higher opposition in the opening two fixtures of the Premier Sports League Cup.
Lynch stressed the team would be working hard behind the scenes to ensure the season proved memorable for all the right reasons.
He said: “We have got a dressing room there that is full of winners, with a winning mentality.
“We will be doing everything within the training park this week and from then onwards with the league campaign coming but we are looking to try to create a proper winning team, which does, hopefully, at the end of the season create a positive outcome.”
The former Dumbarton defender joined Stranraer towards the end of last season and made three appearances as the club attempted to secure a play-off spot at the top of the table.
He explained why he was keen to extend his stay at The LIME Stadium at Stair Park.
Lynch said: “I think it was probably the manager, first and foremost.
“Having seen the way they operate, both the manager and the coaching staff, that was something that really appealed to me.
“I think they go about their business in the proper way.
“In addition to that, having known the squad members, it was a no brainer for me to come back in.
“Also, just the feeling surrounding the club, with the fans, the people that work at Stair Park, that was very appealing to me.
“To be honest, I obviously got a wee taste of it at the end of last season having come in.
“However, I was keen to try to have a full season under my belt and hit the ground running so I am really excited about it.”
Last meeting
Little did Stranraer or Falkirk fans know what was to come about six weeks after they last faced each other, as the COVID-19 pandemic brought the 2019/20 season to a halt.
Aidan Connolly would open the scoring for the visitors but both sets of fans would have to settle for a point. Ryan Thomson scored the only goal of his second spell at Stair Park to ensure the game finished 1-1.
Stranraer: Currie, Robertson, Allan, Cummins, Pignatiello, Hamill, C McManus, Thomson, Stevenson, Victoria, Elliott (Hilton 79).
Not used: McIntyre, Dunn, Phillips and Burgess.
Falkirk: Mutch, Doyle, Dixon, Buchanan, Durnan, Gomis (Telfer 89), Connolly (Longridge 72), G Miller, Todd, D McManus, McMillan (Sammon 72).
Not used: Hall, De Vita, L Miller and Ferrie.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 1 Falkirk 1 (Thomson; Connolly) at The LIME Stadium at Stair Park on February 1, 2020
- Falkirk 3 Stranraer 0 (McManus, Doyle and Durnan) at Falkirk Stadium on November 30, 2019
- Stranraer 0 Falkirk 3 (McMillan, Telfer and Gomis) at The LIME Stadium at Stair Park on September 21, 2019
- Falkirk 1 Stranraer 0 (McManus) at Falkirk Stadium on July 16, 2019
- Stranraer 1 Falkirk 0 (Marenghi) at The LIME Stadium at Stair Park on September 6, 2014
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Edinburgh City (H): 0-2
- DRAW v Alloa Athletic (A): 2-2 (Alloa Athletic win 4-3 on penalties) (Gillie and Quigg)
- LOSS v Ayr United (H): 2-3 (Dolan (Pen) and Traynor)
- WIN v Elgin City (A): 0-1 (Foster)
- DRAW v Stirling Albion (H): 1-1 (Lang)
Falkirk
- DRAW v Alloa Athletic (A): 1-1 (Alloa Athletic win 4-2 on penalties) (Tanser)
- LOSS v Ayr United (H): 0-1
- WIN v Edinburgh City (A): 0-5 (MacIver x3, Parkinson and Allan)
- LOSS v Rangers (H): 2-5 (Own goal and Miller (Pen))
- LOSS v Heart of Midlothian (A): 3-0
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Edinburgh City: Currie, Gillie, Lynch, McLuckie (Quigg 46), Ecrepont, Stuart (Hughes 61), Traynor (Bruce 46), Dunne, Dolan, Cleland (Dobbie 61), Binnie (Healy 46).
Not used: Coll, Nair and E Henderson.
Falkirk
Lineup v Alloa Athletic: Hogarth, Tanser, L Henderson, Melniks (Neilson 58), McMillan (Strain 69), Spencer, Sibbald (Laidlaw 46), Ross, Krauhaus (McGovern 75), Yeats, MacIver (Parkinson 69).
Not used: Allan, Donaldson, Hastings and McCann.
Transfers
Stranraer
Ins: Murray Binnie (St Johnstone), Zach Bruce (Hibernian, loan), Connor Cameron (Renfrew), Dean Cleland (Hibernian), Lewis Dobbie (East Kilbride), Lewis Gillie (Hibernian, loan), Aaron Healy (Arthurlie), Mark McLuckie (Bo’ness United), Kenzi Nair (Heart of Midlothian), Dominic Plank (Heart of Midlothian) and Archie Traynor (Kilmarnock, loan).
Outs: Ryan Edgar (Cumnock Juniors), Matthew Gillies (Heart of Midlothian, end of loan), Lewis Hunter (Caledonian Braves), Deryn Lang (Dumbarton), Joseph McGrath (Hibernian, end of loan), Kirk McKnight (Annan Athletic), Corey O’Donnell (Annan Athletic), Lewis Reid (Ross County), Tommy Sharp (Cumnock Juniors), Lyndon Tas (Heart of Midlothian, end of loan), Sallu Turay (Linlithgow Rose), Sean Docherty and Robbie Foster.
Falkirk
Ins: Jay Hogarth (Clyde), Ben Krauhaus (Brentford, loan), Ethan Laidlaw (Brentford), Paul McGovern (Glenavon), Jack McMillan (Exeter City), Deniss Melniks (FK Auda), Lewis Neilson (Heart of Midlothian), Craig Sibbald (Dundee United), Ryan Strain (Dundee United) and Scott Tanser (St Mirren).
Outs: Ben Broggio (Aston Villa, end of loan), Henry Cartwright (Leicester City, end of loan), Brian Graham (Ross County), Sam Hart (Port Vale, end of loan), Jay Hogarth (Clyde, loan), Filip Lissah (Swansea City, end of loan), Sean Mackie (Arbroath), Louie Marsh (Sheffield United, end of loan) Caelan McCrone (Berwick Rangers), Calvin Miller (Heart of Midlothian), Gary Oliver (Montrose), Jamie Sneddon (Airdrieonians), Barney Stewart (West Bromwich Albion), Dylan Tait (Dundee United), Rhys Walker (Cowdenbeath), Ethan Williams (Manchester United, end of loan) and Kyrell Wilson (Swansea City, end of loan).
Five facts
- Anthony Marenghi only scored one goal for Stranraer and that came against Falkirk. That was also Stranraer’s last win against Saturday’s opposition.
- The last meeting between the two sides saw Max Currie in goal for Stranraer and future Stranraer goalkeeper Robbie Mutch lining up for Falkirk.
- Stranraer have only won once away to Falkirk and that came all the way back in the 1960/61 season.
- Evan Dunne is now the only outfield player in the Stranraer squad to have played every minute of the opening three games.
- Among the players to line up for Stranraer and Falkirk was Mark Stewart. The striker had a loan spell at Stranraer in 2007 before returning to the club in 2019. Fittingly, his final game in a Stranraer shirt came against Falkirk, who won 3-0. The Stranraer team that day was: Currie, Robertson, Allan, Cummins, Hamilton, Pignatiello, Hamill, McManus, Hilton (Stewart 60), Elliott (Murphy 60), Stirling. Not used: Smith, Jones, Dangana and Burgess.
Admission
You can purchase an e-ticket for match entry via Falkirk’s website.
The following pricing applies:
- Adult – £18
- Concession – £12
- Under 18s – £8
- Under 12s (with adult) – £5
Merchandise
Our brand new Argentina-inspired replica away shirts are available for purchase via the online Club Shop. You can order yours online now, along with a range of Blues merchandise.
Coverage
If you can’t make it, 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 morning, with Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Dylan Heron