Weir plays down Hampden horror slip
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JIM Weir has backed keeper Mark Hurst to bounce back from his Hampden howler and help Elgin City banish their away day blues.
City lost their third consecutive match on the road last weekend, crashing 3-1 at Queen’s Park in a game which will be remembered for Hurst’s horror blunder.
The St Johnstone teenager fluffed a throw-in by team-mate Matthew Cooper into his own net in an incident which has gone viral in social media circles this week.
Elgin boss Weir admitted it was a bad blunder by Hurst but says he doesn’t expect it to be repeated by a goalkeeper who has been excellent for his team so far this season.
He believes the young Saint will be back to his best for Saturday’s trip to new leaders Annan Athletic, a game Weir is desperate to win after recent setbacks.
"It’s hard for me to be too critical of Mark when he’s done so well for us," Weir said. "You have to remember he’s only 19 and I’m sure it won’t be the last mistake he makes, but I doubt one like that will ever happen again."
City’s third defeat on their travels this term has given their manager some food for thought when it comes to his tactical preparation for the long journey to Annan.
He said he tinkered with his team’s formation at Hampden last week but may look to a more familiar shape at Galabank on Saturday.
"We tried to play 4-3-3 on Saturday when we are normally 4-4-2, I think we’ve got to be able to adapt to certain situations and how we play away from home. The players have got to learn that.
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"But we might just have to keep focus on our best formation or else we change the personnel."
One enforced change will be in centre midfield, where Mark Nicolson’s fifth red card of his Elgin City career at Hampden last week means he will be suspended for Annan.
