Cove Rangers manager Paul Hartley is looking for a response after his side dropped out of the League One promotion play-off spots.
A 4-1 defeat at Alloa Athletic last weekend saw Cove drop down to fifth and they are now trailing fourth-placed Montrose, who have played a game more, by two points.
Hartley’s side host ninth-placed Annan Athletic at Balmoral Stadium on Saturday and he has urged his side to “stand up and be counted” as they look to get their promotion bid back on track.
The Cove boss said: “It is up to us to get back into the promotion places. There are 12 games left to make a good season and get ourselves into the play-offs.
“We know what we need to do and what is required. Everybody has to stand up and be counted and that is as players and as staff.
“We’re under no illusions – we’re not on a good run at the minute, but we can quickly change the run.
“For 40 minutes at Alloa, we were fine. We were well in control of the game, but then we lose a poor goal. In the second half, we didn’t perform to the level we would expect to be at.
“We need to step up now and everybody has to be ready to perform at their maximum performance levels.”
Cove want to ‘extend’ League One season and play for promotion
Hartley‘s message to his players has been loud and clear as Cove look to secure a first League One win in seven matches.
Their last victory in the league was against basement side Edinburgh City on December 23.
Hartley added: “There are still four or five clubs who can make the play-offs, so we have to stand up and be ready.
“There are loads of points to play for and we still have to play some teams twice, but we have to stop the run we’re on just now and go on another kind of run where we win games.
“There are 12 games left to go and make the season good, but we want to extend our season.
“We don’t want it to peter out when the season finishes on May 5 and have no more games to play. That has been the total message to all of the players.”
Cove could be without goalkeeper Nick Suman for another League One encounter as Hartley confirmed the Australian was still struggling with a back injury during the week.
The custodian picked up the injury in the Scottish Cup defeat at Kilmarnock and was replaced by Balint Demus, who made his return from a fractured hand against Alloa last weekend.
Hartley said: “Nick has still been in a bit of pain, but he has been moving a bit better this week. We will wait and see.
“It has been the story of our season, sort of. We’ve had players come back from injury and then other players have gone out.
“It is another opportunity for Bal. He came back last week and had nothing really to do. The goals were not his fault and there was no blame on him because there was nothing he could’ve done.
“We know we’ve got a good young goalkeeper with Bal, so it is all about him taking his chance.”
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