City get lucky to beat Binos
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ELGIN City won ‘ugly’ with a 1-0 success over Stirling Albion to maintain their good start to the season.
Kyle MacLeod’s 12 minute volley finished off a rare Elgin attack in a match dominated by the visitors.
City manager Jim Weir was happy to take three points out of a performance he admitted was not up to his team’s usual standards.
“If I’m being honest I think it’s our poorest performance yet. It’s a game I didn’t enjoy because I never ever felt comfortable,” said Weir.
“But I’m very pleased to win the game, obviously. I’ve got to be fair on my players, they are not going to play well every week and win the game so we’ll take the victories when they come.”
The downside of Elgin’s win was an injury to St Johnstone loan defender Liam Gordon, who was stretchered off before half time.
Weir revealed the player has aggravated an old knee ligament injury so was taken off more as a precaution.
But with fellow centre back Jamie Duff also struggling with a knee problem, the City boss is keen to bring in a new defender before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.
“Over the next two or three days we’ll be working hard to try and add to the squad,” he said, adding he still has a possible loan option and is keen to take in a defender and a striker.
Two of Elgin’s loan players made a big difference in Saturday’s win against Stirling.
St Johnstone keeper Mark Hurst won the man of the match award after pulling off some fine saves, while Ross County front man MacLeod notched the only goal of the game.
He met a Daniel Moore cross from the left with a glancing volley at the front post which ran across goal and went in at the other post.
Hurst kept his fourth clean sheet in six games with some tidy stops, particularly one in the first half when he dived to push away Steven Doris’ free kick.
“I couldn’t see it. It came through somebody’s legs and I just dived and managed to get my left hand to it and turn it round the post, thankfully,” said the Saints keeper after the game.
Despite the win Elgin actually slipped off the top of League 2 as East Fife beat Queen’s Park 2-0 at Hampden to go above them on goal difference.
City’s next outing is away to Montrose on Saturday.
Elgin: Hurst, Cooper, McHardy, Gordon (Macphee 45), Duff, Nicolson, McKenzie, Cameron, Gunn (Hunter 90), MacLeod, Moore. Subs: McLean, Halsman, Bruce, Black.
