Stirling Albion boss searches for answers as Alloa edge out Binos for derby day spoils

Stirling Albion boss Darren Young was left scratching his head after his Binos slipped to a second straight derby defeat at Alloa on Saturday.

They had come into the dust-up keen to put the bad taste of the defeat to Montrose out of their mouth and turned in an improved showing, but lost out thanks to on-loan midfielder Taylor Steven’s second-half screamer for the Wasps.

It means a second defeat in four days for Stirling after making a strong start to 2024, with Saturday bringing the prospect of a tricky trip to Annan against a revitalised Galabankies outfit who pulled off a shock win at Hamilton.

Stirling missed several chances of their own on the afternoon to claim something from the game – which their play probably merited – and Young believes his troops could have done better with their openings.

The Binos gaffer said: “I felt we more than deserved a draw because they’ve not had many chances in the game and maybe we haven’t tested their goalkeeper enough up the other end.”

He was also critical of the way his side conceded Steven’s fine strike – with Young insisting his troops had been warned of the St Johnstone loanee’s abilities in advance of the game.

Young added: “The goal the guy scores is a worldie, we conceded one on Tuesday [against Montrose], we spoke about it and I had spoken to the players about their game against Annan, the boy Taylor has come inside and done that three times and ballooned every one.

“We made them aware that this boy will come in off his left, we don’t stop the ball in the middle of the park and allow him in the pitch and he finishes really well.It was an improved performance, but we just need to show that extra quality and improve on those margins.

“We need to make sure we’re keeping the back