City continued their fine away form by winning 2-0 at Annan last weekend, but are still left sitting second bottom of the league as a result of their failure to win a home league match all season.

Manager Jack is demanding that his men put that right by beating Forfar at Borough Briggs on Saturday.

He is well aware that a first home success could thrust his team up three positions in the table, and close the gap on fifth-placed Forfar to just two points.

"We have to keep closing the gap. We have put ourselves in the position where a win at home on Saturday would put us right in the pack and that's what we will be going all out to do," said the Elgin boss.

"Maybe the players need to believe in themselves a bit more if they are to get that first home win. I believe in them, and they should believe they will do it on Saturday."

Jack was thrilled with another success on the road at Annan, to go with recent wins at Stranraer and Queen's Park. And he joked that he might have to take all of his squad on a long journey for home fixtures so they can imagine they are playing away.

"I'm going to order a bus in Elgin and go for a four-hour drive before Saturday's home game because we seem to be so successful on our travels!" he said.

"But seriously, it has been strange why we haven't won at home. I don't know what it is because we go out there with exactly the same philosophy as we do for away games.

"We know we are good enough to win at home and keep winning there so we need to replicate that away form starting with this weekend. We simply have to do it soon and I see no reason why we shouldn't do it this week."

Jack said his team looked solid in every department at Galabank last weekend to beat an Annan side which had not tasted a home defeat for 15 matches. And he said many of the press reports he read did not give his players full credit for their display.

"They played extremely well, and I was disappointed that some reports failed to mention how clearcut it was, referring to the sending off of the Annan defender.

"We were 1-0 up already at the time he was sent off, and Craig Frizzel was running through on goal when he was fouled so he may well have scored anyway. I just felt we deserved a bit more respect for what we achieved on Saturday."

The manager will have every respect for Saturday's visitors, Forfar, who have been tipped as strong contenders for promotion.

He is wary of the managerial talents of Dick Campbell and the scoring exploits of his son Ross, as well as the height and experience of stalwarts like stopper Andy Tod and front man Chris Templeman.

"They are a big, strong, physical side, a threat with their aerial ability and we need to be ready for that.

"It will be a completely different proposition from Annan, but we are prepared to go out there and battle and win ugly if we have to. I'll be more than happy to settle for that.

"I know how frustrating it has been for the fans, as well as the players, that we haven't been winning at home but that record will be forgotten when we go out there against Forfar."

Centre half David Craig senior is out, and defensive partner is extremely doubtful so Jack may go with the central pair of Allan Dempsie and David Niven which did so well at Annan.

Jason Crooks should be back from an ankle problem, and Jake Inglis is available again.

c.christie@northern-scot.co.uk

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