Elgin City captain Jon-Paul McGovern has challenged the Black and Whites to produce a strong second half of the League 2 season to make sure of a promotion play-off place.
Elgin trail league leaders Edinburgh City by 19 points at the midway stage of the campaign, leaving the play-offs as the only realistic chance of promotion for Gavin Price’s men.
City take on Annan Athletic at Galabank today, with their opponents having leapfrogged them into fourth place on goal difference, and midfielder McGovern is determined to bounce back following last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Peterhead.
McGovern said: “We know how important the derby is to the club and the fans, but at the same time we can’t dwell on the result or how the game went.
“We are frustrated with that, but from looking at the league table we know how important the next couple of games are going to be.
“We know where we are in terms of position. Edinburgh City, Peterhead and Clyde have all made fantastic starts, but there is no reason for me why we cannot go and cement a play-off position which has got to be our aim.
“That has always been the aim and it’s what we have got to try and do.”
Price is hoping to add to his squad during the January transfer window, with Ryan Farquhar, Scott Miller and Declan Byrne having left in recent weeks.
McGovern feels more depth is required at Borough Briggs, with the 38-year-old adding: “We have lost a couple of bodies which is never nice, because when a squad comes together you get to know the boys.
“I think we’ve got to be bringing in a wee bit of quality, people that are going to be fighting for the starting 11 and putting a bit of pressure on.
“When players have got the jersey, it’s up to them to go and hold on to it.”
Elgin have taken one point from a possible six against today’s opponents but McGovern feels his side are more than a match for Peter Murphy’s men, adding: “Looking at the actual games we’ve had against them, down there especially, their management team said afterwards how lucky they were to come away with a 1-1 draw.
“They have got a certain style of playing, under a good manager. I was at Carlisle with Peter for a couple of years so I know him very well, I also played with him at Ayr.
“They set their stall out defensively and he works them very hard.
“It’s up to us to go down there and break them down. Hopefully they will play a little bit more to allow us to go and hit them on the break.”