Elgin City manager Allan Hale calls for final push in William Hill League 2 season with difficult run-in for Borough Briggs club
It will be survival of the strongest in the battle to make the end-of-season football play-offs.
Elgin City are right in the mix for a shot at the League 1 play-offs but manager Allan Hale knows there’s a lot of work to be done.
While the Black and Whites have been in the top four in League 2 for their entire season, Hale has questioned his squad’s credentials to finish the job and go up a division for the4 first time in the club’s 25-year SPFL history.
His doubts came after a dismal performance from his team in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to promotion rivals Stirling Albion.
“We've got a really tough run-in and if we don't improve then we'll lose our position in the playoffs. It's as simple as that,” he said.
“I just think when we're in the position that we're in, I don't expect us to put in that level of performance at all (against Stirling).
“That tells me that mentality-wise the group are maybe not ready to take that step in terms of competing at the top end of the league, because there's got to be consistency.”
Elgin’s promotion hopes took a downturn when they lost six consecutive league games, but responded by winning their next three prior to last weekend’s loss to Stirling.
The league winners gain automatic promotion and the next three clubs contest two-legged semi-finals and a final along with the team that finishes second bottom in League 1.
Fourth-placed City are currently three points ahead of their nearest rivals Spartans, but with four games to play in their regulation season they face some difficult opponents.
“There's four important games left against three of the top four,” Hale added.
First up is a visit to third-placed Edinburgh City on Saturday.
City then play host to current leaders Peterhead, who could be in the position to clinch the title at Borough Briggs on April 19 if they defeat the Black and Whites.
Another home game for Elgin follows the Peterhead clash as they welcome Stranraer north, before finishing with an away game at East Fife, who are four points behind Peterhead in second and virtually guaranteed at least a place in the play-offs.
“It's still in their hands,” Hale added. “We've got to win games of football. That's always been the objective.”
Remaining fixtures in William Hill League 2.
April 12:
Bonnyrigg Rose v East Fife
Clyde v Forfar Athletic
Edinburgh City v ELGIN CITY
Peterhead v Spartans
Stirling Albion v Stranraer
April 19:
East Fife v Stirling Albion
ELGIN CITY v Peterhead
Forfar Athletic v Bonnyrigg Rose
Spartans v Clyde
Stranraer v Edinburgh City
April 26:
Bonnyrigg Rose v Spartans
Edinburgh City v Forfar Athletic
ELGIN CITY v Stranraer
Peterhead v East Fife
Stirling Albion v Clyde
May 3:
Clyde v Peterhead
East Fife v ELGIN CITY
Forfar Athletic v Stranraer
Spartans v Edinburgh City
Stranraer v Bonnyrigg Rose
League 1 play-offs
Semi-finals, first leg, May 6:
4th in League 2 v 9th in League 1
3rd in League 2 v 2nd in League 2
Final, first leg, May 13:
Lowest-ranked club at home to other semi-final winner
Second leg, May 16:
Highest-ranked club at home