The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pressure greater last season, says Brechin boss
Dealing with the pressure of getting into the promotion play-offs shouldn’t be an issue for the Brechin players, as far as manager Darren Dods is concerned.
Not after the test of character they faced 12 months ago.
For a large part of last season the Glebe Park side looked certainties to go straight down from League One, let alone be in the end-of-season relegation play-offs.
But an incredible run of results when they needed them culminated in a last-day great escape.
So the Glebe Park manager has a sense of perspective about the last two games of this season.
Brechin are in the last play-off spot on goal difference, locked in a fourway battle on 46 points with East Fife, Airdrie and Queen’s Park.
They face Albion Rovers at home this afternoon, followed by Stenhousemuir away next weekend.
“The pressure in these games is a lot less than it was last season,” said Dods.
“Back then we knew that one or two bad results could mean we were relegated.
“The players handled that pressure and came through it.
“It’s much better to be at the other end of the table, that’s for sure.”
He added: “We’re looking to get two wins out of two.
“That would make sure we get into the play-offs and could even see us finish third. “Four points might be enough. “I’d certainly have taken this at the start of the season.
“There are two games to go and it’s in our own hands.
“Other teams play against each other this weekend and next weekend. They can’t all win.”
Last week’s 0-0 draw with Stranraer wasn’t the result that Dods was looking for before kick-off, but it didn’t turn out to be a bad afternoon.
He said: “We probably deserved to win it but Stranraer are a hard team to break down.
“But, with other results going for us, it turned out to not be the worst result.
“We’d lost nine goals in two games before that so it was good to get a clean sheet.”
Graeme Smith, Dougie Hill, Finn Graham and Gareth Rodger are all out, with Darren McCormack a doubt.