WITH just one win in their first four league games, Peter Murphy’s side will be hoping to get back to winning ways against Albion Rovers on Saturday.
Following a slow start to the new league campaign, the Annan boss believes that the game against Stirling last weekend was a ‘wake up call’ for his players.
The Black and Golds fell to a 2-1 defeat against The Binos. Tommy Goss put Annan in front only for Adam Cummins and Danny Denholm to strike in the second half and give Stirling the victory.
Annan fortunes turned on Tuesday night against East Kilbride in the Challenge Cup, they won 5-4 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 in normal time.
William Mortimer opened the scoring for the home side, while Goss equalised in the second half. Annan shot-stopper Greg Fleming was the hero in the shootout, scoring one and saving one.
After the Stirling game, Murphy said: “We didn’t manage the second half as well as they managed the first half.
“To concede in the manner that we did is not great.
“We got sucked into going long too early without any quality.
“We had two big boys up top to try and cause them problems and the quality coming up to them was not good enough.”
“They are all tough games and I think everybody now sees us as the team to beat, whereas in previous years it has been different.
“That’s a psychological barrier we need to get over because we have now lost three out of four in the league and in those three games we haven’t performed very well.
“This game was maybe a little bit of a wake up call.”
On Tuesday night Premiership giants Aberdeen will visit Galabank for a League Cup encounter in what will be the first ever meeting between the two sides. Jim Goodwin’s side will travel from the granite city to Galabank, and Aberdeen have sold out their ticket allocation ahead of the clash.
Annan fully deserve to be in this stage of the competition after a string of impressive displays, including some against higher level opposition, ensured progression in the competition.
Speaking ahead of the game, Annan chairman Phillip Jones said: “We have never met Aberdeen before in any competition.
“They are a good side who are flying just now, and we have a bit of an injury list.
“They have sold out their allocation of 1000 tickets, our tickets are moving along a bit slower but we are limiting them to make sure that all of the regulars can attend.
“We have nothing to lose, we’ve beaten Hamilton before at Galabank, nothing would shock me.”
Meanwhile, the draw for the third round of the Challenge Cup will take place at 1 pm on Monday, August 29.
