Stirling Albion face one final push in their Premier Sports Cup campaign as they travel to Arbroath on Saturday, but Robbie McNab insists the demanding schedule will benefit the side. The 30-year-old, converted from midfield to right-back by new boss Steven Whittaker, delivered a solid performance in the weekend defeat to Montrose that ended Stirling's hopes of reaching the last 32.
Final group match and league preparation
The last Group B match takes Stirling to Gayfield to face Championship side Arbroath, providing a final tune-up before the League Two opener against Dumbarton in eight days. Speaking to Albion's Matt Reid after the Montrose match, McNab said: "The schedule is what pre-season is for to be honest; a lot of the boys really look after themselves outwith the schedules these days.
"The midweek games are probably a little tougher to bounce back from, but the training has been really good so far - the standards and intensity are right up there. We have one more week to go before the real stuff gets started and come that point, the boys who have been toiling with some injuries or others needing a bit more fitness will be well up to speed."
Manager's tactics and defensive solidity
McNab added: "The new manager is trying to implement what he's trying to do on and off the ball and this week we'll get those two training sessions which will be decent to look back at things and moving forward. The preparation is all geared towards that first league game, ironing out the mistakes we've been making, getting better with those and building on the good things we've been doing so far because a lot of it has been pretty positive so far.
"We've been pretty solid defensively minus a few sloppy mistakes and the second half [against Montrose] shows we're more than capable of dominating games."
Familiar face in opposition
The match also serves as a dress rehearsal for Arbroath after their defeat to Montrose left them unable to finish in the top two. Stirling fans will recognise Scott Constable in the home squad; the Dundee United youth standout joined Arbroath on a season-long loan after a successful spell with the Binos in the second half of the 2024/25 season, making 13 League Two appearances.
