Kyle Banner insists he’s ready to take the fight to the opposition if needed as Stirling Albion aim to keep a promising start to the season going at Kelty Hearts.
Banner Ready for Physical Battle
The popular midfielder, who has racked up more than 150 appearances in Binos’ colours, was involved in a few scuffles with Dumbarton skipper Mikey Doyle over the course of the afternoon as Stirling got off to the perfect start in League Two in a 2-0 win.
The 27-year-old is back patrolling the Albion midfield after flitting between midfield and the centre of defence last season.
Banner admitted the Binos’ defensive record in the last two seasons has been far from what was expected, but believes the early work being done by new boss Steven Whittaker and his coaching staff will make them stingier over this campaign.
Building on the Start
He said after the Dumbarton win: “You could see over the League Cup games, the results weren’t brilliant but the performances were there and there’s a real togetherness which you can feel with the gaffer and in the changing room.
“It translates on to the pitch and therefore the fans can see it as well which really helps to go on and get the result in the game.
“The biggest negative from last season was the sheer number of goals we conceded and it just feels as if we’re more solid as a group right from Andy [McNeil] in the goals through the back four and up the pitch.
“The players are putting in a top shift, but it’s only a start for us and there are many league games to go, so it’s all about building on what we’ve done today and keeping it going.
“There was a real negative feeling at the end of last season, we under-achieved as a group and we felt that. The gaffer and the new coaches have brought a real freshness and you get that encouragement from the side of the park.”
Banner on His Battles
Banner also touched on the clashes with fellow experienced head Doyle which attracted the ire of the away support and joked that his team-mates have singled out him out for attracting the attention from the opposition.
Asked about whether he enjoyed the battles, Banner said: “Not when I’m on the receiving end of it!
“A few of the boys were joking last year that I ended up as a bit of a human punching bag and I don’t mind too much, I’ll just get on with things.
“I like to be passionate about the game because it gives me that extra edge in what I’m doing.”
Kelty Hearts Challenge
Stirling will look to follow up the momentum from the Dumbarton win on the road at New Central Park with a visit to Kelty Hearts.
The Fife club were relegated from League One last year and lost 1-0 in Forfar in their opening match of the season last weekend.
They boast some familiar faces for Stirling fans, with recent forwards Ryan Shanley and Ross Cunningham among their ranks, as well as ex-midfield standout Alex Ferguson.
Young Irish forward Finn Moffett - who racked up the goals in recent seasons for Stirling University in the Lowland League - is also in the Fifers’ squad.
