Elgin City manager Gavin Price says his side’s poor away form has made it all the more crucial they maintain their fine Borough Briggs record in the next two matches.
City have triumphed in seven of their 11 home games this term, however that record is offset by as many defeats from the same number of away matches.
Price’s men take on Annan Athletic, whose 1-0 victory in September is one of only two home losses suffered by the Moray outfit this term, and with leaders Montrose to follow next weekend, the Elgin boss says it is vital they bounce back from last week’s 3-1 loss at Stirling Albion.
“Our home form has been pretty decent and we need to take advantage of it, because our away form has not been particularly good of late.
“Hopefully we can get that sorted in the long term, but we are glad to be back at home.
“We have the best home form in the league, I don’t know if that’s a geographical thing, but it’s been like that pretty much since we’ve been in the door.
“Hopefully we can maintain that. We have got two tough games against play-off rivals so it’s important, given our away form lately, that we do the business.
“Annan inflicted one of our rare defeats at home this season. We haven’t scored against them this season which tells its own story, that we find them hard to break down, although we should have taken something from the home game.”
Price, who is still without injured attacker Shane Sutherland and goalkeeper Iain Ross, has praised the impact of midfielder Scott Smith in recent weeks.
Smith was limited to just nine appearances last season, due to an ankle injury which kept him sidelined for eight months, and Price added: “Scott has taken his chance well. He has been a bit frustrated, he had a long time out with his injury and it took him a while to get back to match sharpness.
“He has done well, he has added a bit more energy to the midfield at times.
“I know him locally from the Perth area. He didn’t get the chance to show us what he could do in his first season because of the injury, it has been a hard time for him but he’s pleased to be back now.”
