The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
More than McAllister Defender Ross determined to cover Peterhead gaps
Despite trailing 2-1 after playing 40 minutes with 10 men McInally is confident his side can retain the club’s League 1 status.
He said: “I saw enough on Wednesday to know we have a good chance of pulling the deficit back and winning the game.
“If you had offered me coming away a goal behind after the way the second half panned out I would have taken it as Forfar had a couple of late chances from set-pieces which could have made it a lot worse.
“It was a huge effort from us on Wednesday in the second half and we’ve come through it still in the tie. We’ve beat Alloa when we had to and Montrose last week as well. We’ve got one last challenge and we’ll be ready for it.” Peterhead defender Scott Ross is determined to show the Blue Toon are not a one-man team as they try to stay in League 1 without forward Rory McAllister today.
McAllister signed off for the season by scoring the opening goal in his side’s 2-1 defeat at Forfar on Wednesday, but will sit out the return leg at Balmoor today due to suspension.
McAllister would probably have missed the game due to injury anyway after limping his way through the final half hour at Station Park, but there is no doubt his absence increases the pressure on his team-mates.
Ross, however, is adamant his team can cope without their leadingscorer.
He said: “We’ve got Nicky Riley and Leighton McIntosh who is a big strong lad as well.
“We’ve got the players and it’s not all down to Rory.
“Yes, of course he has scored a lot of goals this season, but it’s up to the other lads now to show what they can do.
“Rory is suspended but he would have been injured anyway.
“We’re more interested in showing what we did in the first half than worrying about who is not playing.
“When it was 11 against 11 we were the better side and we feel it’s all about what we do now.
“Forfar are dangerous but the tie is wide open and it will come down to who wants it most. The spirit is there in our side and we will turn up believing we can stay up.
“We’ve shown the heart and desire to turn it around and get this far and now we have one last hurdle to get over.”
The tie is finely poised following Forfar’s two second-half goals on Wednesday with the Loons making the most of their numerical advantage following
FORFAR LOONS MANAGER DETERMINED TO TAKE SECOND CHANCE
Michael McMullin’s red card.
Ross is frustrated at the decision by referee Stephen Finnie to red card his teammate who will be available for the game after the Blue Toon appealed the second booking, for diving.
The Blue Toon defender said: “Decisions happen which can change matches and we saw that on Wednesday with the flow of the game turning with the penalty decision going against us and Mick being sent off.
“There was anger at the end of the game but considering we were playing with nine men as Rory was injured we dug deep to stay in the tie and it is not finished.
“We had to dig in from there, but we’ve got another chance and still believe it’s about what we do that matters most in this game.”