Stranraer need to start making their own luck, according to Danny McManus.
The Blues saw a lot of the ball, particularly in the first half, but, ultimately, went down to defeat against Annan Athletic last weekend.
That leaves Chris Aitken’s men ninth in the League Two table and four points adrift of Elgin City.
Now, with the first quarter of the season complete, McManus is calling on his team to keep working to turn things around, starting against Queen of the South in the KDM Evolution Trophy.
He said: “We need to make our own luck at points.
“The penny is not going to drop unless we make it happen.
“We are through the first quarter now and it is only going to change if we make it change and right now we are not doing it.
“We just need to keep doing what we are doing.
“It is not as if we are playing bad and conceding lots of goals.
“Of course we are losing games but we need to do more at the top end of the pitch and try to get as many clean sheets as possible.
“We need to turn it around as quick as possible.”
Storm Amy played her part in Saturday’s contest with Annan as both teams had to battle strong winds and heavy rain.
In the end, it was a close range finish from Keith Watson that proved decisive and ensured the points returned with Willie Gibson’s team.
That goal came after Lewis Reid, Kirk McKnight and Deryn Lang all had opportunities in the first half and so did McManus.
A volley from the edge of the box looked destined for the net before the Annan number one Gio Clarke got a hand to it.
The Stranraer man said: “It is a good save from the goalie.
“It had the wind behind it as well and, obviously, I would have loved for that to go in.
“Again, we’ve have just not done enough throughout the whole game.
“That was probably one of the only shots on target that we have had.”
Last meeting
Aaron Quigg’s first goal for Stranraer was all that separated the two sides when they met back in July.
The visitors came closest to opening the scoring in the first half when Liam Smith found himself clean through on goal. Josh Lane managed to divert the shot onto the crossbar as Stranraer survived.
At the other end, a fine Stranraer move found Evan Dunne all alone at the back post but Ross Stewart managed to turn his shot over the bar.
The only goal of the game would come after the break when Quigg stretched to get on the end of Finn Ecrepont’s teasing ball into the box.
The other main talking point of the afternoon came when Stewart, already booked, fouled substitute Sal Turay out wide late in the game. A red card followed and the visitors finished the cup tie with 10 men.
Stranraer: Lane, Ecrepont, Reid, Rough, Dunne, Stuart (Sharp 80), Quigg (McKnight 69), Russell, McManus, Hunter, Edgar (Turay 69).
Not used: Docherty, Hilferty, Ellis and Henderson.
Queen of the South: Stewart, Hewitt (Charters 66), Penman, Rogerson, Lyon, Johnstone, Stott (Luissint 66), Smith, Kennedy (Douglas 76), Ross (McLinden 83), Guthrie (Burke 76).
Not used: Hall, Chapman and Thomson.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 1 Queen of the South 0 (Quigg) at Stair Park on July 26, 2025
- Queen of the South 5 Stranraer 3 (Harkins, Dobbie x2, Dykes and Stirling; McGowan, Donnelly and Turner) at Palmerston Park on July 14, 2018
- Queen of the South 2 Stranraer 0 (Lyle and Conroy) at Palmerston Park on July 25, 2015
- Queen of the South 2 Stranraer 0 (Holt and Clark) at Palmerston Park on April 13, 2013
- Stranraer 0 Queen of the South 5 (Burns, McGuffie (Pen), Lyle x2 and Clark) at Stair Park on February 16, 2013
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Annan Athletic (H): 0-1
- WIN v Dumbarton (A): 1-2 (Russell and Dolan)
- WIN v Motherwell B (H): 3-0 (Lang, McManus and Turay)
- DRAW v Elgin City (H): 1-1 (Russell (Pen))
- LOSS v Spartans (H): 0-2
Queen of the South
- WIN v Alloa Athletic (H): 1-0 (Hewitt)
- LOSS v Montrose (A): 2-1 (Dickenson)
- LOSS v Hearts B (H): 2-3 (O’Donoghue and Hewitt)
- LOSS v Inverness Caledonian Thistle (H): 0-2
- LOSS v East Fife (A): 2-1 (Lyon)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Annan Athletic: Lane, Reid, Rough, Docherty (Stuart 31), Coll, McKnight, Russell (Turay 65), McManus (Quigg 76), Hunter (Plank 76), Dolan, Lang (O’Donnell 65).
Not used: Ecrepont, Gillies, Edgar and Henderson.
Queen of the South
Lineup v Alloa Athletic: Stewart, Hewitt, Douglas, Hannah, Penman, Lyon, Dickenson, Mackenzie (Burke 60), Stott, Smith, Kennedy.
Not used: Rogerson, Charters, Johnstone, Leslie, O’Donoghue and Green.
Five facts
1. Stranraer have not won consecutive matches against Queen of the South since the 2000/01 season, when they won all four league encounters. It started with a 4-1 win at Palmerston Park (Michael Geraghty and Alan Blaikie scoring alongside a Paul Walker double) before a 3-2 triumph at Stair Park (Billy MacDonald, Keith Knox and Walker again). The return trip to Dumfries brought another 3-2 win (MacDonald, Walker and Ian Harty finding the net) before, finally, a 2-0 win at Stair Park (Harty with a double).
2. Three former Stranraer players will celebrate birthdays on Saturday. Left back Tom Black made more than 100 appearances for the Blues from 1996 to 2000 having also played for Airdrie, St Mirren and Kilmarnock. He turns 63. Midfielder Paul Archdeacon played a handful of games in the late 1990s, having also played for St Mirren. He turns 49. Striker Adam Forde turns 30 having made 34 appearances and scored three goals.
3. The next goal scored by Stranraer will be the 50th of the Chris Aitken era. So far, 21 different players have found the net for the manager. Leading the way is Mark Russell with 10, while Deryn Lang is second with five, and Max Guthrie, Ryan Edgar and Elliot Dunlop all sit on four.
4. In the last two meetings between Stranraer and Queen of the South at Stair Park, a goalkeeper has been sent off. Ross Stewart was sent off for the visitors last time out while David Mitchell was shown a red card in a league meeting in February 2013.
5. Four of Stranraer’s five victories this campaign have come at Stair Park, including the 1-0 win over Queen of the South earlier in the season.
Admission
Admission in the Eco Gen Stadium at Stair Park is ‘pay at the gate’ only. Season tickets are not 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
Merchandise
Stranraer FC merchandise is available from the hut outside the main McLeans Taxis Stand, including brand new pin badges and key rings, all three of this season’s kits, hats, a range of new leisurewear, and some great bargains on last season’s items.
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 our popular 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.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with the familiar voices of Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Colin Poultney (Collarge Images)
