City aim to score Blue Toon first
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE bigger the wages, the harder they fall.
Peterhead may be able to recruit top-name players with their sizeable transfer budget, but Elgin City manager Ross Jack is aiming to cut the Third Division title favourites down to size in this weekend’s North-east derby clash.
City will visit the Buchan club’s Balmoor Stadium on Saturday for the first time in more than five years, bidding to win there for the first time ever.
Big-spending Peterhead brought in star striker Rory McAllister and a string of experienced signings during the summer in an effort to bounce back up following last season’s relegation from Division 2. Ross County’s former Caley Thistle striker Garry Wood is the latest established name to come in on a five month loan, and he will debut against a City side who he began his senior career with.
But City boss Jack says his own team is in good fettle for the trip east, and are capable of breaking their duck against their former Highland League rivals.
"It’s a massive game, and as always we’ll be going all out to win. We don’t know any other way," he said.
"Peterhead are champions elect in many people’s eyes They have spent big, and everyone says they are big favourites to win the title.
"It’s well documented that Rory McAllister and now Garry Wood have gone there, and I would imagine that those two’s wages would probably be more than our entire team.
"But we’re going well at the moment, and with a good travelling support behind us we’ll be looking to come back with the three points."
Given their budget, Peterhead have made a poor start with just three points gained from their four matches so far, compared to Elgin’s nine.
But Jack believes form will count for nothing on Saturday and expects the Buchan side to start climbing the table soon.
"You look at Arbroath, who didn’t start that well last season but came strong in the end. We’re fully aware how strong Peterhead are and how capable they are of doing the same.
"They possess a lot of quality, but so do we and we will concentrate on looking after ourselves and trying to put some more distance between us and Peterhead."
Jack was still in negotiations with a mystery SPL club about the possibility of bringing in a loan signing or two, though the likelihood of a deal being struck in time for Saturday was looking slim.
With Brian Cameron toiling to make his comeback from an Achilles problem, Archie MacPhee out with an ankle ligament injury, Ross O’Donoghue unavailable due to work commitments and several others carrying knocks, Jack knows his selection options will be limited for Saturday.
See Friday's Northern Scot for full story.
