Elgin City centre back Jake Dolzanski says four Borough Briggs matches in their next five William Hill League 2 fixtures could define the Black and Whites’ whole season
Losing their last two away games won’t define Elgin City’s season, but their next five fixtures could.
So says centre back Jake Dolzanski, with City playing four of those next five games at Borough Briggs where they have been at their strongest this term.
The 26-year-old missed 13 matches due to a recurrence of an old knee injury but returned this month in the home victories over East Fife and Bonnyrigg Rose, scoring in the second game.
He was also on the losing side twice as Elgin went down at Stirling Albion and Stranraer in the last two weekends, extending their run without victory on the road to seven outings.
Dolzanski knows that his team must pick up more points on the road if they are to make a late push for the League 2 title, but equally with seven of their final 12 league games at home he believes they can continue their fine Borough Briggs form.
“The last couple of results have been disappointing, but I don't think that's going to define our season,” he said.
“If you look at the next five games, that could be season-defining, where, on the run-in, we're going to be challenging for either the play-offs or the league.
“We've got four out of the next five at home, and Peterhead away, so if we can come out good at that, we'll certainly be in a good position.”
This weekend City host an on-form Edinburgh City, who have won four of their last five league games to draw level on points with third-placed Elgin.
The capital side are one of only three clubs to take points off City at Borough Briggs this season and are the only current League 2 side who Black and Whites’ boss Allan Hale has yet to taste victory against.
“It’s a massive bounce-back game for us,” Dolzanski said. “With a frustrating couple of away games, slipping up, it's imperative that we get back to winning ways on Saturday.
“We're always strong at home, so we need to be again. Especially against Edinburgh, the in-form team in the league, at the moment I'd say.
“At home we'll fancy ourselves against anyone. They play football the right way, so I'd imagine it'll be a good game for the spectators as well.”
The defender is still working his way back to full fitness after so long out with a knee injury. “It was similar to the one I had two seasons before.
“It felt for a long time like I wasn't really getting anywhere with it, but since I've been back, I've felt totally fine.
“I mean, I missed 13 games, but it felt like 13 months.
“The first 45 minutes back in the East Fife game, I was kind of finding my feet, just timings and that. To be honest, I felt pretty good since.
“When I was injured, I wasn't doing too much sharpness-wise, but I was doing a lot of running endurance-wise.
“So legs-wise, I've not felt terrible, it's just that sharpness. Just with the ball at my feet, really.”
Dolzanski accepts that unlike many of his City team-mates, he will only be asked to play in one position and that is centre half.
“I don't know if the gaffer would trust me anywhere else! I think I'm a centre-half through and through.
“In years gone by at Elgin, you've maybe been guaranteed a game in certain positions, but where we want to be challenging at the top of the league, you need to have strength in depth.
“There's so many quality players that can play in that position. So there's always pressure to perform, really. I think for me, I just need to focus on helping the team and doing what I can, keep performing well myself and hopefully stay in the team.
“The likes of Kyle Girvan and Soapy (Brian Cameron) at centre half have been absolutely outstanding.
“Jack Murray has been out for a few weeks now and I think everybody knows Jack's qualities by now. A player like him, any team in League 1, 2, possibly even Championship, would be lucky to have him.
“So when he's back, he'll only improve us, definitely. So the sooner, the better.”
After Edinburgh at home on Saturday, City visit second-placed Peterhead then have three Borough Briggs clashes in a row against Forfar, Spartans and Clyde in the space of a week.
Dolzanski believes the Black and Whites’ supporters can play a big part in helping their team make the most of those fixtures.
“Even throughout my time at Elgin, even for how frustrating and how bad we were at times, we've always been well-supported, but especially this season.
“I know it's maybe a cliche to say, but honestly, when you see them all there, they're getting behind you, and it really does make such a difference.
“In my first game back against East Fife, honestly, the noise at times, they're bawling you on, it really does give you that extra couple of percent.”
