Stranraer vs East Fife preview - Duo missing for Stranraer

Posted Friday, January 17, 2014 by PA

Stranraer are without the injured Chris Aitken (ankle) and Marc Corcoran (hip) as they look for a third win of the season over visitors East Fife.

The Blues include former Morton player Stephen Stirling after snapping him up following a short appearance as a trialist against Dunfermline last Saturday.

Manager Stephen Aitken is keen for his men to bounce back after losing 3-2 at East End Park and he said: "It says a lot about our season when we are disappointed at losing at Dunfermline and we have to look to use that disappointment against East Fife.

"They have improved their squad so this will be a really tricky game."

East Fife lost Stephen Hughes to Dundee this week but have bolstered their ranks with the capture of the experienced Kevin Rutkiewicz.

The former Aberdeen, St Johnstone, Dunfermline and Morton man is in line for a quickfire debut, but Pat Clarke misses out with a shoulder injury and Nathan Austin is a major doubt.

Manager Gary Naysmith said: "Stranraer have had a terrific season and they are a great model to part-time clubs in this league.

"We have improved in every game recently and this game will tell us how close the changes we have made are taking us to matching them."