Gary Naysmith: Stenhousemuir head into Scottish Championship play-offs in fine fettle after Montrose win

Gary Naysmith hailed his players’ professionalism after they completed the regular Scottish League One season with a 2-0 win away to Montrose on Saturday.

The Warriors, who had an outside chance of securing the title if Inverness lost to Hamilton Accies and they won, did all they could do in Angus - with Michael Anderson and Olly Whyte scoring either side of half time to finish a remarkable league campaign with a victory and a clean sheet. The part-time side only lost five matches this term, and their 67-point total would have won the third tier last season.

And Stenhousemuir now head into the Championship play-offs in fine fettle. They travel to third-placed finishers Queen of the South on Tuesday night before the semi-final return leg on Saturday at Ochilview Park.

Stenhousemuir’s season isn’t over yet, urges boss

Speaking after the win at Links Park, boss Naysmith said: “The season isn’t over. The season is very much alive for us. We are going into the play-offs in real good form - we’ve had one defeat in 19 matches. We have won our last two now. We went into the play-offs last season having crept in on the last day at the final hurdle. We went into those play-offs with a lack of bodies too but we have a strong group to choose from. The points total we got would have won the league last season but it hasn’t been enough this season.”

Reviewing the performance, the ex-Scotland full-back added: “It was a totally professional performance. We did our job. In the second half especially, as the situation is a difficult one with us winning 1-0 and the players also knowing that Inverness were 2-0 up and unlikely to let that lead go. The players showed their professionalism and it allowed me to get some players off the pitch ahead of Tuesday night. Some others managed to get minutes coming off the bench. We did all we could do. Congratulations have to go to Scott (Kellecher) and his players. We pushed them hard over the 36 games but they have just got over the line - but they did get over the line and you have to recognise that.”

Stenhousemuir - who won League Two two seasons ago and then made the promotion play-offs last season - now go into the semi-final as the league’s second-placed finisher. Last time around, they finished four and played Championship side Airdrieonians over two legs, losing out. They’ll now travel to Queen of the South this Tuesday for the Championship promotion play-off semi final first leg. The Warriors then welcome Peter Murphy’s side to Ochilview Park on Saturday.

If Naysmith’s team progress to the final - they will face one of Airdrieonians or Alloa Athletic in the final. That is also a two-legged tie with the highest-placed finishing club given home advantage for the second clash. Those matches would take place on Wednesday, May 13 and Saturday, May 16.