Elgin City manager Barry Smith says club's players, board and supporters must stick together to help Borough Briggs outfit bounce back from Scottish Cup thrashing to Jeanfield Swifts
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Stunned Elgin City manager Barry Smith understands the barrage of criticism he came under last weekend following his side’s humiliating 6-0 Scottish Cup defeat to Jeanfield Swifts.
Read more: Elgin chairman reacts to cup thrashing and club's difficulties.
Watch: Highlights from Black and Whites' Perth horror show.
Smith says he will take the flak and reinforce his efforts to turn City’s fortunes around this season.
Consistency will be key to a Black and Whites revival, the manager said. He has bossed the team to six-goal losses in two of their last three outings - Peterhead was the last one - but has also watched some encouraging performances at a standard he is keen to replicate more often.
“When it comes down to it, when I took on the job I knew there were going to be challenges and they were emphasised on Saturday,” he said. “It comes from the inconsistency and the levels that we get.
“Against Morton (in the Challenge Cup) we showed a lot of fight and desire, against Dumbarton we won the game at home and showed that same level of commitment
“Even in our last game against Stenhousemuir we were the better team for the majority of the game and could have won it. But on Saturday the inconsistency was shown where we never saw any levels at all.
“It was a low point for every one at Elgin and we fully appreciate and understand the criticism and accept the criticism that had come our way - because it wasn’t acceptable.
“But when you get to that low point, you’ve got to have the belief that you come out the other side stronger.
“It’s a hard time for everyone at the club, the fans and the staff but if we stick together then hopefully we can come out stronger.”
Smith knows he must strengthen his squad in the effort to lift City away from their current position at the bottom of League 2.
He already recognises the areas he needs to improve.
“There’s a big imbalance in the squad and we are playing players out of position because we don’t have anyone for certain positions.
“It’s tough on some of the guys being asked to play out of position but at the moment we can’t do anything until January.
“We just have to keep going with the boyswho are there, in the knowledge that they’ve got the first chance. If the players do well, there’s every chance that we will just reinforce based on what we need. “
City may have a point to prove when they make the league trip to Stranraer tomorrow.
“You always want to play after a result like that so you need to make sure that the boys are ready for the game and they are ready to perform,” Smith added.
“Given the past result I would fully expect that they will be ready.”
