Elgin City manager Gavin Price puzzled by team's Borough Briggs form and steps up bid to have two signings in place for New Year visit to Forfar Athletic
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Elgin City's disappointing display in Friday night's 2-1 home loss to Stirling Albion has heightened manager Gavin Price's desire to strengthen his squad.
City looked a shadow of the team that has pushed up to third place in League Two this term with a limp performance against the Binos.
A headed goal by Stirling centre back paul McLean was all that separated the sides after an even and scrappy first 45 minutes.
A superb Kai Fotheringham goal doubled Albion's advantage ten minutes after the break, before City had Ross Draper sent off for a last-man challenge on Dale Carrick.
A Russell Dingwall penalty midway through the second half gave Elgin a glimmer of hope but they were fortunate not to concede more goals in the last quarter as the game finished 2-1 to the visitors.
"If I’m being honest, our home performances haven't been up to scratch," said manager Price.
City had been defeated by leaders Dumbarton and lowly Forfar in two of their previous three home league outings, and exited the SPFL Trust Trophy at the hands of Clyde in their last Borough Briggs outing.
Yet the Black and Whites have been picking up some good results on the road.
"We are not creating as many chances as we normally do, so we’ve got to look at that and find the answers," Price said
"Whether that is different type of players coming in this January to give us that option to play a different way - whatever it needs we will find it."
Price had said he was keen to bring in at least three new faces in the January window, and he wants two in place for his next match at Forfar Athletic on January 2.
The manager is exploring the loan market and said he had watched a number of Premiership development matches over the past few weeks.
But he is also on the trail of one unnamed player to bring in as a permanent signing.
"I would like two players in for the game against Forfar. There are loan options and we are looking at a permanent signing as well.
"We will see what happens. I hope we can make these happen."
Price revealed that Caley Thistle loan defender Lewis Nicolson, who started in the Stirling defeat, is being recalled by his parent club in January but there still remains a possibility of a return.
Nicolson will be available to play for Elgin at Forfar before going back to Inverness the next day, helping out the injury-hit Championship side through the month.
Price and his assistant Jim Weir will now look to tie up deals in an effort to spark some form into his side.
"I hope to bring in three," Price said. "We need to find a couple of players to give us something different to what we’ve got and add to that competition for places.
"If we do that, there’s a good chance to push on in the second half of the season."
City will now have Draper suspended for the trip to Forfar but fellow centre back Jake Dolzanski returns from a one-match ban.
