Elgin City defender Matthew Cooper is determined to keep the Black and Whites’ outside chance of Betfred Cup progression alive with a victory against Stirling Albion today.
City play their first home game of the season when the Binos visit Borough Briggs, with Elgin fresh from an impressive bonus point triumph against Alloa Athletic, which followed a 3-3 draw against the Championship outfit.
The result followed a late 2-1 defeat to fellow second-tier outfit Arbroath, in which Elgin had taken the lead.
Cooper, who netted the decisive penalty in the 6-5 shoot-out victory over the Wasps, feels the double header has provided a fine test for his side ahead of the visit of fellow League 2 outfit Stirling today, which is followed by Friday’s match against Premiership side Hibernian.
Cooper’s spot kick success was all the sweeter for the former Caley Thistle player, who missed a penalty in a shoot-out loss to Arbroath in the IRN-BRU Cup last season, and he said: “I don’t think anyone expected us to qualify from the group before the games started. Most lower league teams look at it as preparation for the season ahead, but we have given ourselves a chance and we want to be up there at the end.
“I think there are a lot of positives to take from both games, playing against higher opposition away from home with a few key players missing.
“We deserved something from both games so it is a promising start.
“Stirling Albion will be a good test as to where we are in our preparations, as we know Stirling will be a strong side again next season. It will be another tough test.”
Elgin manager Gavin Price remains on the lookout for an attacking wide player, however he looks likely to miss out on former Ross County loanee Ross MacIver who is expected to be offered a deal by Premiership club Motherwell.
Price remains keen to sign MacIver should the move fall through, and he said: “He did pre-season with us and said himself he felt a lot sharper.
“He went down to Motherwell and did well. The door will not be closed on him, he’s a north based player we would always be interested in.”
Elgin welcome back Andy McDonald and Kane Hester from injury, however Rabin Omar is suspended and Darryl McHardy and Brian Cameron are long-term absentees.