The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Stand-ins stand up for City’s late run for title
Midfielder Reilly knows wins are cruical for City
Elgin City midfielder Thomas Reilly is confident the Black and Whites have the depth of talent to maintain a late League 2 title push.
City were without leading-scorer, former Peterhead forward Shane Sutherland, pictured below, for Saturday’s 1-0 win at Berwick Rangers, with the 24-goal attacker pulling out of the warm-up with a knee injury.
Manager Jim Weir handed Craig Gunn, who scored 23 goals last season, his first start since November, while fellow forward Chris McLeish netted the winner at Shielfield.
Although Sutherland could return for tonight’s trip to Stirling Albion, Reilly believes those waiting for an opportunity can prove there is no overreliance on the former Caley Thistle player.
Reilly said: “Everybody knows Shane was a big miss, because of his goals and his link play, but we have players on the bench capable of doing the same job.
“Craig Gunn did really well. He has a great record, with the amount of goals he scored last season.
“He’s found himself as a back-up because of the way Shane has been playing but he’s got the same ruthlessness in front of goal. “Chris McLeish came up with the goal while Ali Sutherland was brilliant when he came off the bench. “These players are all pushing us and that is a strength in depth which we’ve probably not had in the year and a half I’ve been at the club.”
Elgin aim to continue a fine recent streak at Forthbank, having gone undefeated in the league since a 3-2 loss at Arbroath on December 17, and Reilly said his side must be prepared to win ugly.
The 22-year-old added: “Forfar have won a lot of games by one goal, and those are the games that win teams the league.
“We have to credit them for doing that, but we have shown recently we are able to do it. We didn’t play anywhere near as well as we have been on Saturday, but we showed a different side.
“We didn’t win games like that last year. Since the turn of the year we’re unbeaten in the league and have gone seven games without a defeat, so there’s got to be confidence.”
Elgin have had mixed fortunes at Forthbank, going down 4-1 in the group stage of the Betfred Cup in July before winning 4-0 on league duty in September.
Reilly is eager to get the victory which would move Elgin to within seven points of leaders Forfar Athletic, and added: “It’s a really big game for us to try to get closer to the top of the league.
“We know it’s going to be tough, we have been down there twice already this season.
“We got a bit of a doing in the cup, but then had a really good performance and result in the league game. That’s the sort of performance we’re looking to replicate.”
“Have players on the bench capable of doing the same job” “We had a really good performance and result in the league game”