Stenhousemuir have the initiative in the League 1 play-off final against Queen’s Park after Wednesday night’s 1-0 success at Hampden.
Manager Brown Ferguson is hoping that defensive strength will see them through and ensure they are playing League 1 football again next season.
Ferguson said: “It was a good competitive game on Wednesday but we will not be getting carried away as it is only half-time. We defended really well which was great to see.
“It is terrific at this stage of the season to defend like that and we will take confidence from it. Queen’s Park had plenty of the ball but we limited them to very few openings.
“There is more to come from us in terms of attacking. If we are as strong defensively as we were in midweek, and add a bit going forward, then I am sure we will do well.”
Queen’s Park head coach Gus MacPherson, whose side were League 2 runners-up, said: “If we get the first goal it will be game on and we will go for it on Saturday.
“We have to play it that way and I am looking for the type of performance we put in against Arbroath at the semi-final stage, where we scored twice in the first half.
“If we sit back and show patience then that will suit Stenhousemuir. They have experienced players who enjoy defending so we will have to change a couple of things to make them uncomfortable.
“Our main objective this season was to stay in the league and now we are 90 minutes away from promotion. If people remember where we were 12 months ago we have certainly over-achieved this season.
“For a group of players who only came together last summer they have over-delivered and our fans appreciate that. It was great to get into the play-off final and now we want to take that final step.”
Meanwhile, Stenhousemuir’s match-winner at the National Stadium, Jamie McCormack, reckons on-loan team-mate Paul McMullan will be starring in the Celtic first team next season.
The 19-year-old was the main attacking threat for the Warriors at Hampden and nearly gave them the lead with a cheeky chipped free-kick from 40 yards before setting up McCormack to nod in the winner with a delightfully-floated cross.
One-time Wigan Athletic player McCormack said: “We had been told their keeper stands a bit off his line so I was surprised to see Paul try and chip him. He puts crosses right on the money for you to attack and it was a great ball for my goal.
“He is a top, top player who will play for Celtic in a good few games next season. I am sure he will make it big and I will always be able to say I scored from one of his crosses at Hampden, which is a pretty decent claim to fame!”
Craig Stewart
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