Peterhead defender Jason brown feels the club are finally getting the quality of recruits they need in their survival battle.
Manager David Robertson has brought in five new players – Kevin Joshua, Glenn Gabriel, Daniel Fosu, Boris Melingui and Kieran Shanks – with only Joshua a defensive signing.
Peterhead have struggled for goals all season and are still to score in Robertson’s four games in charge.
But now with Gabriel, Melingui and Shanks all forward options, as well as Russell McLean coming back from suspension, Brown feels they now have the requisite quality from their new arrivals.
“We’ve had new faces all season, so it’s something we’ve been used to,” said Brown. “So I wouldn’t say it’s just fresh faces that have given us a lift.
“But you can see the players have got the quality to get us up the pitch.
“Until the manager came in, we’ve maybe not been able to get the quality we needed.
“We’re starting to get a bit of quality at the top end of the pitch and you’re seeing in the last few games that has helped.
“As defenders, we know how bad it’s been this season, but if you look into the games we’ve never really had a whole team performance. But the last few weeks have been better.”
Words of advice for Tom Ritchie
Young goalkeeper Tom Ritchie has caught the eye during his loan spell with the Blue Toon.
The Aberdeen stopper kept his first clean sheet against Montrose and saved a penalty in defeat to Airdrieonians last Saturday.
Brown feels Ritchie will have learned from the adversity he has faced with Peterhead, but urged him to keep his performance levels high.
“Tom is still the game and he’s made a few mistakes, but we’re here for him when he needs it,” said Brown.
“He’s a good goalie, is a good kicker and shot-stopper. He’s been worked to the hilt and he’s not shied away from that challenge.
“For a young goalie to come in and show a willingness to perform is good. He takes responsibility and has shown his personality.
“If you ask any player, they would take getting experience of first-team football over playing youth or reserve football.
“I’ve told him he needs to keep his standards high and perform as well as he can, as it will do him well in the long run.
“Hopefully he doesn’t go through a period like this in his career again.”
Eyes on a repeat performance at Dunfermline
Peterhead are at East End Park this weekend to face Dunfermline, with the two sides drawing 2-2 in the reverse fixture.
Brown was on target that day as the Blue Toon launched a late fightback – and sees no reason why they cannot take something from the game tomorrow.
“They are flying high and look like the team to beat,” said Brown. “It’s going to be a really tough ask, but we’ll go down there with no-one hiding.
“We’ve got to stick our chests out now, until the end of the season, and hopefully get the breaks we’ve not been getting.
“That day (the 2-2 draw) we performed really well and were well and truly in the game. We know we’ve got it in us, but it’s going to be a massive task.
“We’ve got to start taking a bit more responsibility than we have, put our best foot forward and see where it takes us.”
