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Elgin getting a taste for Tunnock's competition


By Staff Reporter

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BACK to winning ways in League 2, Elgin City’s next aim is a quarter-finals place in the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup.

Elgin celebrate Shane Sutherland's goal in Coatbridge. Photo: Bob Crombie
Elgin celebrate Shane Sutherland's goal in Coatbridge. Photo: Bob Crombie

City’s run of seven league games without victory was ended by Saturday’s 3-1 success at Albion Rovers.

This weekend, they will be less than three miles away from the scene of their Coatbridge victory when they take on League 1 side Airdrie in the cup.

Elgin have been on the road throughout the competition, with a 4-3 win over Hibs Colts at Easter Road, a 5-4 goal-fest at Brechin, then a stunning 2-1 success at Dens Park over Championship hopefuls Dundee.

Borough Briggs boss Gavin Price is keen to keep the run going, and will enjoy a fortnight’s break from league action as his team host Berwick Rangers in the William Hill Scottish Cup the following Saturday.

“We discussed with the players during the week how important the Albion Rovers game was, knowing we had a two-week break after it with the cups,” he said.

“Getting three points on the board means we can go and enjoy these two games. It sets us up for a run of home fixtures after Saturday and hopefully the springboard is there now to push us on in the league.”

Price believes his side’s best performances this season have been against higher league teams. As well as taking on Premiership Hibs in the Betfred Cup in July, losing 2-0, Elgin have been a match for three Championship sides.

The aforementioned Dundee triumph was the pinnacle, while City also beat Alloa on penalties and only lost out to a stoppage-time goal at Arbroath.

“The league is obviously our priority, but we will be doing our best to keep our good cup form going over the next couple of weeks.

“As we did in the last three rounds, all away from home, we go to Airdrie with the hope of playing our football and getting through. We have done well against teams from the higher leagues this season.

“We will be underdogs for sure but it’s a game we’re not going into fearing, and we will give ourselves every chance of getting through to the quarter-finals, which would be a great achievement.”

Rabin Omar returns from a three-game ban while Darryl McHardy made his comeback from a dislocated shoulder in the Albion win as a late substitute.

David Wilson failed to start for the first time last week due to injury, with Matthew Cooper deputising at right-back. Price admits he has a tough choice on who to play at Airdrie.

Shane Sutherland continued his tremendous scoring form this season with City’s second goal in the win at Albion – his 14th of the campaign. Daniel MacKay opened the scoring and a late own goal made it 3-0 before Albion’s consolation.

“Getting ahead in the game makes a huge difference and that is probably the only difference between this game and the defeat at Brechin the week before, when we should have won.”


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