Greenock Morton 2 Elgin City 1: Black and Whites take lead against Championship side before loss
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ELGIN City manager Barry Smith has said the attitude of the club's players has 'never been in question' after a tight loss to Championship side Greenock Morton on Saturday.
City were knocked out of the SPFL Trust Trophy by their full-time opponents but, having taken the lead in the game, there were plenty of positives to take.
Liam Harvey put City 1-0 ahead after 15 minutes before Robbie Muirhead equalised on the half-hour mark. Lewis McGrattan got the winner for the hosts just after the hour.
Manager Barry Smith said: "We knew it was going to be a tough game at Cappielow, but the boys were disciplined in their shape and worked very hard.
"We got a goal early and it was something we had worked on in training, so that was pleasing.
"I don't think the attitude of the boys has been in question. It's spot on and it's about maintaining those levels and giving them different ideas."
The squad that has been assembled by Ross Draper, who remains with the club as a player, will be the squad that tackles the first half of the League Two campaign, Smith added.
"The playing squad is what it is," he said. "There's a lot to work with there and if we need to do anything in January then we will look at it then.
"The players that are there just now are the most important people to me, and I need to get the best out of them and maximise the potential.
"There are a lot of young boys who are there on loan and that’s for a reason, to get experience. They are going to make mistakes and we understand that. It's about improving them.
"Their parent clubs think a lot of them and think they are ready to play at this level so I am looking forward to working with them.
"But also the guys that are the bread and butter of the team, the mainstays that will help the young boys during games."
The focus for City this weekend is securing their first three points of the league campaign and climbing away from bottom.
Dumbarton are the visitors to Borough Briggs, with Smith expecting a tough task – but aiming for maximum points.
"They have an experienced backline and have just added Michael Ruth from Aberdeen, who is always a threat going forward," he said.
"We have got to concentrate on the way we want to play. We have to be a threat going forward.
"We have got a long term aim, but we can't reach it without focusing on the next game. The focus is on three points against Dumbarton and after that we move on and concentrate on the next game."
