Two controversial penalty decisions from referee Craig Charleston and the sending-off of City defender Darren McCormack were contributing factors in Saturday’s defeat.
Manager Ray McKinnon preferred to look forward to Wednesday night’s Championship play-off at home to Alloa Athletic rather than dwell on what might have been in the preceding 90 minutes.
“I don’t normally criticise referees as I realise they have a very difficult job, but I thought that the ref today got so many things wrong, not just for Brechin but for both sides,” he said.
“However, we will just have to take the defeat on the chin and move on, although it’s extremely disappointing to lose Darren for the Alloa game as he has been such a consistent performer.
“With Wednesday night’s game on the horizon we rested five first-team players and I thought that the boys who came in did very well.
“However, we’ll be back to almost full-strength on Wednesday, and when we have our strongest side available we’ll be a match for any side.”
The Blues took the lead in the 21st minute when Stephen Stirling fired home from close-range.
City were level within a minute when Ryan Ferguson took advantage of a Calum Tapping pass to lob the ball into the top corner, with the Stranraer defenders claiming the former Dundee United and Dunfermline midfielder used a hand to control the ball.
The visitors regained the advantage a couple of minutes before half-time.
Willie Gibson forced his way into the City box and appeared to nudge defender Ewan McNeil, but the ref gave a spot-kick to Stranraer which Gibson converted.
The former Queen of the South midfielder wrapped up the points in the 74th minute when he slotted home his side’s second penalty after a Daniel Stoney shot had been blocked by City defender McCormack, with ref Charleston then sending McCormack off for deliberate hand ball.