Leitch ready to show Blue Toon’s title credentials

League 2: Little scope for error after frustrating start to promotion push

Peterhead are already five points adrift of League 2 leaders Stirling Albion, but midfielder Jack Leitch feels his side is more than capable of challenging for the title.

The Blue Toon conceded a last minute equaliser against secondplaced Montrose last weekend when towering forward Chris Templeman scored a late leveller to cancel out Leitch’s first goal for Peterhead.

Jim McInally’s side began the season as favourites for the title, but have taken only seven points from their opening five games, including defeats by Stenhousemuir and Stirling Albion and 22-year-old Leitch said: “That game against Montrose was actually the best we have played and we should have scored a lot more.

“To concede an equaliser in the last minute was hugely disappointing, we couldn’t do too much about it as it was a great cross into the box and their forward is huge, it is difficult to stop him when he gets the right delivery.

“But I feel we can take a lot of encouragement from the way we played and we are confident we will be up there pushing for promotion come the end of the season.

“I know we have lost a couple of games but I don’t think we have anything to fear. We know we are going to face some difficult games throughout the season but we have enough quality in the team to be right up there.”

The midfielder, the eldest son of former Motherwell captain Scott, began his career with the Steelmen. He made his debut in the club’s surprise 1-0 Scottish Cup defeat by Albion Rovers.

He suffered a cruciate ligament injury that curtailed his involvement during the 2014-15 campaign and was released by the club at the end of the following season after making 32 appearances for the Scottish Premiership team.

Leitch moved to Airdrie at the start of last season, scoring one goal in 11 appearances for the Diamonds.

He joined Peterhead on a one-year deal last month and is relishing the opportunity to play for the Balmoor side, who are attempting to win promotion back to League One at the first time of asking following demotion through the play-offs last term.

Leitch, who is optimistic he will shrug off a knee injury to feature against Cowdenbeath today, added: “I have really enjoyed my time at Peterhead so far and the players and the manager have been really good with me. The manager sold me on the move to Peterhead, I liked the ambition he has for the club and it seemed like it would be a good fit for me.

“We haven’t started the season as well as we would have liked in the league but I feel we can build on last week’s draw with Montrose.

“Cowdenbeath have lost a few games in a row recently but we won’t be taking them lightly. Hopefully we can start a winning run this weekend and start moving up the table.”

“We haven’t started the season as well as we would have liked”