Yet again, it was a couple of big points dropped at Ochilview –the last time they managed a win at home was against Shire on Boxing Day.

So it may be no bad thing that John Coughlin's men are back on the road this Saturday when they face Arbroath.

John McGlashan's outfit are currently three points ahead of the Warriors in the coveted fourth spot but, after losing to Forfar on Tuesday night, the Angus club have played one match more.

Montrose, meanwhile – in third place – are six ahead on 47 points yet, given the Warriors have a game in hand, the Links Park team are within touching distance with seven contests still to be fought.

Nevertheless, if Stenhousemuir are to extend their season and reach the play-offs, a win at Gayfield is imperative.

And Coughlin is in no doubt that is the case.

"Forfar beating Arbroath in midweek was a fantastic result for us and puts us right back in it," he told Heraldsport.

"To be honest it's something we maybe don't deserve because we have not taken our chances to win our home games.

"Having said that, I hope it's one we can grab with both hands because if we had gone into the Arbroath match six points down, and with their better goal difference, a defeat would have finished us."

Coughlin took over at Ochilview in October when the team was second bottom, so he could have been forgiven for concentrating on next season. However, he doesn't do pessimism.

"I honestly believed when I came here that we had the players to get a play-off spot, and that's still the case," he went on.

"But we've thrown away a number of points and last week's game was a classic example of that.

"To concede a goal in the 92nd minute by failing to defend a simple free-kick battered into our box is criminal, and the other one we lost was pretty similar.

"The first ball should be dealt with and, right now, we are not doing it – in my opinion we have a soft centre about us."