Bottom-of-the-table Elgin City begin life under new manager Jim Weir with a visit from League 2 leaders Arbroath tonight.
Weir, who was appointed last Thursday, got to work quickly by spying on the Gayfield men when they defeated Elgin’s conquerors Bo’ness 5-0 in the Scottish Cup on Saturday. And on Sunday, Weir assembled the majority of the Borough Briggs squad for a training session.
The former Montrose, Arbroath and Brechin manager said: “It is great to be working in football again and it was a busy weekend.
“Bo’ness created chances in the first half but Arbroath ran out very deserved winners and they have excellent forwards in Paul McManus and Simon Murray.”
Weir has now also got a better idea of his own team after Sunday’s training session.
He said: “I was due to go in a bit blind about my team in this game but I know them better now. There is talent in the squad and I am looking forward to getting started even though it is probably the hardest game we could have.”
Archie McPhee and Dennis Wyness are injury doubts, with Ali MacKenzie again ruled out with a knee problem.
After brushing aside the challenge of the junior side, Arbroath manager Allan Moore is looking for his men to get the better of Weir’s team.
Moore said: “We have only dropped points to Albion Rovers and Queen’s Park, the teams beside us at the top of the table this season, and I want that to continue being the case.
“Going to Elgin in midweek is always a tough game and the appointment of Jim Weir last week makes this game harder.
“When a new manager comes in players usually lift their game to impress and we will face a difficult night at Borough Briggs. We do not want to be dropping any points especially after Queen’s Park won on Saturday.
“We are a really strong side in the middle to front and we showed that on Saturday. We will look to do that again at Elgin.”
On-loan Dundee midfielder Dylan Carreiro returns after missing out at Bo’ness, with the only absentees through injury being goalkeepers David Crawford and Scott Morrison.