Manager asks about the ‘guts, fight and heart’ as title bid wilts for City
ELGIN CITY’S title challenge wilted in the 3-0 defeat at Edinburgh City and they now face a battle to secure a play-off place.
The defeat in the capital meant Elgin slipped down to fourth, five points ahead of in-form Stirling Albion and have now had six games without a win.
Dougie Gair scored twice (once from the penalty spot) and Jordan Caddow rubbed salt in the wound five minutes from time.
Jim Weir, the Elgin manager, now has to halt the slide and he did not mince his words after this latest defeat.
“It was gutless. There was no heart, no fight, but I pick the team and I have to take responsibility,” he said.
“The third goal typifies our type of performance from certain players and it’s about time they took responsibility on the pitch.
“I’ll take the responsibility off the pitch but they need to take it on it.
“I said before the game that I thought it would be difficult to win the league and to expect the teams above to drop three or four games. Both lost, so it was an opportunity blown.
“I look as if I have a group of players who think they can saunter over the line and into the play-offs and the last performances haven’t deserved that.
“You can only go with what you have in the dressing room. We were unlucky against Forfar and Arbroath and we should have won those games but when we played at Annan a few weeks ago I didn’t think it could get worse.
“One team wanted it today and one team wanted to get out of the position they are in. One team thinks they are safe where they are but I tell you, in two or three weeks’ time, if I keep getting that performance it will be mid-table for us.
“We were second to everything with no communication or leadership.”
Leaders Forfar slipped up 3-2 at home to Berwick Rangers but kept a point clear of Arbroath who lost 1-0 at home to Montrose with Gary Fraser scoring a late winner.
Stirling Albion made it six wins out of six as they beat Clyde 3-2.
Manager Dave MacKay said it is “a huge ask” for his team to make the play-offs but there is no doubt they are heading the right way as Elgin stumble.
Annan Athletic moved up to third in a 1-0 home win over Cowdenbeath.