Elgin City manager Gavin Price has called for an extra push as the Black and Whites aim to kick start their League 2 campaign.
City are struggling for form, having failed to register a win in their last seven games since they opened the campaign with a 3-0 victory over Cowdenbeath on August 3.
Price maintains belief his side can challenge for promotion, but insists they must return to winning ways soon, with the Moray outfit making the trip to Albion Rovers today.
Price said: “It’s a big frustration. I still firmly believe we should have a team that is competing for those top four places this year.
“I still firmly believe we can do that. I just think everybody has got to raise that five or 10 per cent to get over the line in games.
“The players are all collectively saying that, and taking that responsibility on.
“Hopefully league results will show that in the weeks coming up.
“We’ve just got to get a bit more streetwise in terms of winning games. It’s not just about keeping possession and playing good football.
“We need to be a bit more ruthless when we are on top in games. We need to transfer that into results in the league.
“I’m pretty sure if we keep doing the things we are doing and add that bit extra, we will be OK.”
Price is hopeful his side can string a run of form together in the coming weeks, and he added: “It’s an important period for us. We are under no illusions about that – it’s important we start getting it right.
“There’s no time to feel sorry for ourselves about where we are.
“There’s a long way to go still. We are only three points off fourth place, so it’s not all doom and gloom.
“I would be a bit more frustrated and worried if we were not competing and not deserving to win these games, but we are getting nicked by the odd goal.”
“I don’t think we are far away. It’s just about getting that result to get us going and kick start a good run.”
City are boosted by the return of skipper Darryl McHardy who has been sidelined for most of the season with a dislocated shoulder, however Rabin Omar serves the final match of a three-game ban.
Price feels he is getting closer to a clean bill of health, adding: “I still firmly believe in the group of players we’ve got. The injury list is hopefully getting better.
“Things are quite optimistic still, but we’ve got to get on that run sooner rather than later.”
