Stirling Albion manager Stuart McLaren was determined to look at the positives following Saturday's League Two draw with Arbroath.

The Binos fought back to earn a point thanks to Darren Smith's strike, and the Albion boss admitted a draw was a fair outcome after a hard-fought game in difficult conditions.

The result means that both teams are still very much in the playoff hunt, and the manager believes both his side and their opponents could find themselves at the top of the table come the end of the season.

McLaren told Stirling News Sport: “I don't think either team could really be honest with themselves and say they really should have won. Both teams had some chances in the game and both had a goal ruled out for offside. When it's one each and Steven Doris is through you think that could seal it. With the way the pitch and the weather were and with the form Arbroath were in, it was always going to be a really tight game. It was going to come down to a mistake or a little moment of somebody's cleverness or ability. I thought our boys really applied themselves well. It's a good point. We are in a position where we need to get a couple of wins but it is a good point for us. The way other results have gone, nothing changes in the league. It just means we have got one game fewer.

“We are both well in contention for the playoffs and as everybody keeps saying, we just need to go on a run. Both sides can, within reason, have title ambitions as well.”

McLaren admitted the conditions made life tricky for both sides but believes the players on show made it an entertaining spectacle for the supporters.

He said: “There were some good players on the pitch. We are hoping Bobby Linn's injury is not too serious because he is a good player who can cause problems, as are Darren Ramsay on the other side and Josh Skelly as well. But we have players like that on our side, and I thought Lewis McLear was terrific on his debut. Darren Smith, Steven Doris and the rest of the attacking players all showed some really good glimpses. The conditions were maybe not conducive to the purest form of the game but that's just the way it goes sometimes.”

One highlight for the Albion faithful was the appearance of Moses Olanrewaju, who earned his reward for some excellent displays for the Under-20s in the form of his first-team debut.

The youngster impressed after replacing Mark Lamont and his manager says there is plenty more to come from him.

McLaren said: “It maybe wasn't the best situation for him to go into, on that kind of pitch, but he has well and truly earned his opportunity, and I thought he grasped the opportunity. If he continues to focus and apply himself he will get plenty more opportunities, and if he does that I'm sure he can do things for us.”

McLaren is hoping that defender Ross McGeachie and midfielder Willie Robertson will be fit to face Montrose on Tuesday after they both missed out on Saturday's trip to the North East through injury.

He added: “Late in the Queen's Park game Ross pulled up with a hip complaint. Had we known that last week's game was going to be postponed we might have rested him but he continued to train and it was still lingering. We thought that with a fully fit Scot Buist there and Ross McMillan back available, that it was an opportunity to make sure he gets over that. It's possible he will be back available on Tuesday but if not he will be back against Berwick.

“Willie trained on Thursday but the game just came a little bit too soon for him. With other players fit and ready to go, there was no need to risk him. We will check on him on Tuesday and hopefully he will be fit to play.”