Peterhead defender Ryan Strachan fears relegation from League 1 is a growing threat after bottom of the table Stenhousemuir came out on top in the basement match at Balmoor on Saturday.
Oliver Shaw’s early deflected goal, in a scrappy match of very few chances, proved decisive as the Warriors reduced the Blue Toon’s gap to just two points.
The result has cranked the pressure up on the Blue Toon going into the remaining two matches, particularly given their dismal form.
Peterhead did defeat East Fife in Methil last week but that was their only victory in a dozen games and they have managed just three home wins all season.
Strachan said: “We have not been at the races this season. We have not been good enough. Not one player has come close to hitting the heights of last season.
“Confidence is a massive factor in football and we have got none.
“It is a worry because going into the last two games, we could be either relegated or hopefully get a bit of momentum going into the play-offs if we finish ninth. But we are stuttering. We are not getting what we need and it is a worry.”
Strachan added: “We won last week and thought we would get a bit of confidence from that, but it was not to be and basically it typified our season. There have been some highs but far too many lows.
“We have two games left now, but we are in trouble so the players need to stand up and be counted and show some character.”
On loan Hibs forward Shaw was the difference in this relegation struggle, although his pivotal 10th-minute goal did carry a strong element of good fortune.
From about 20 yards out, the teenager struck a shot, which took a big deflection off Craig Reid, wrong-footing goalkeeper Fraser Hobday as the ball spun into the net.
Shaw was lively and enthusiastic and while Peterhead did display plenty of effort as well, their lack of quality was the main reason why they could not get back into the game.
Chances were few and far between and although the Blue Toon threw more players forward in the second period, visiting goalkeeper Graham Bowman was rarely called on meaning Stenny saw out the game.
