Only one win in their last six games has dented Peterhead’s hopes of a promotion push but the Blue Toon players are not conceding defeat in the play-off race.
The Buchan men host a Forfar side looking to be joint league leaders tonight and manager Jim McInally has backed his players to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat at Stenhousemuir on Saturday.
He said: “We have hit a sticky patch in terms of results but we are playing well. It shows you how far this club and this group of players have come when people are talking about our promotion bid stalling.
“We are a promoted team taken on well-established sides in this league and have held our own. A couple of things have gone against us in recent games but we will look to bounce back against Forfar.”
McInally added: “Forfar had a great result on Saturday when they won at Morton but that is no great surprise as they are a good side. This league is incredibly competitive and we will go into the game with that approach as opposed to being concerned.
“Hopefully, we can show the perfect response to losing to Stenhousemuir at the weekend.”
McInally is hoping to have Scott Ross available again after illness but Dean Cowie and Nicky Riley are both struggling with knocks.
Forfar head to Balmoor looking for the win that will pull them level with Morton and the Loons are in buoyant mood after they defeated the Greenock side 2-0 at Cappielow.
Manager Dick Campbell is telling his players that nothing can be taken for granted in this league. He said: “We won well at Morton and winning that game has given us a much better chance of being involved in a title chase until the end of the season.
“However, this league is fiercely competitive and we cannot drop our standards up at Peterhead or we will pay a heavy price.
“Stranraer defeated Dunfermline 5-1 and then lost 1-0 to Stenhousemuir in their next game and that shows how difficult this league is to predict. Peterhead still want to be involved in the promotion chase and a win over us would be a boost to their aims.”
Campbell, who has a full squad to choose from, added: “We are entering the last quarter of games with a real chance of having a memorable season but we cannot take anything for granted.”