Gavin Price says the energy put into Elgin City’s defensive effort must match that of their attack.
Elgin have drawn plaudits for their fluent attacking play this season, and are the joint-second highest scoring side in League Two.
The 26 goals they have netted is equalled by the number of goals they have conceded however, following last weekend’s 4-0 home loss to Dumbarton.
In the wake of the chastening defeat, Price vowed to analyse the game in detail in order to get to the root of where his side fell short.
Price has been encouraged by the response shown by his players in training this week but he insists they must back it up when they return to action away to Annan Athletic on Saturday.
He said: “It’s make up time. Regardless of the result we need to see a reaction in terms of the work-rate and performance.
“It’s important we react well from what was a below-par performance for a lot of reasons.
“We need to make sure we dust it off and respond in the right way. It’s imperative we do that.
“They have certainly shown that this week, we have spoken about it.
“I have been fairly critical of them. I have watched the game back and there are certainly things we can do better as a team.
“It’s not all about what we are doing going forward. I have really complimented their energy in getting forward, and with the amount of goals we have scored this season.
“But you can see the goals against column is exactly the same and that’s not good enough. We need to work hard defensively.”
Annan on the rise following slow start
Elgin’s strong firepower was evidenced in their last meeting with Annan, when the Black and Whites ran out 5-1 winners at Borough Briggs last month.
Annan triumphed 4-0 when City last played at Galabank however, in a Premier Sports Cup group stage tie during the summer.
Although Peter Murphy’s side had a slow start to the campaign, back-to-back victories over Forfar Athletic and Stirling Albion have moved them to within three points of fourth-placed Elgin.
Price insists he is not surprised at Annan’s revival, added: “I always felt Annan had a good squad of players there. We saw it in the League Cup at the start of the season when they did fantastically well to qualify from the group.
“I have always thought Annan could well be one of the teams challenging for the top four places.
“It’s another big game for us and we need to make sure we are bang at it.”
The return of on-loan Caley Thistle defender Lewis Nicolson comes as a boost to Elgin, however skipper Matthew Cooper, goalkeeper Daniel Hoban and attacker Fin Allen are expected to miss out.
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