cinch League Two returns this week as The Warriors welcome Elgin City to Ochilview for their 2nd meeting in less than a month.
It’s league business though following a 3-1 loss in the Highlands in the SPFL Trust Trophy second round.
The Warriors were on a poor run of form which saw them pick up 2 wins from 2 since that fixture.
With no fixture last week, it gave Stephen Swift and the boys some extra time to work on the training ground.
“I think the big thing was getting them in on Saturday and continuing to work on the things that we wanted to work on and the boys have bought into it. I think it’s been a really good, productive week. Ideally, we’d have liked to have kept on playing, but I think the boys have got a good bit of focus at the moment. However, we played Elgin in the cup and we thought they were a very good side. They’ve only lost 1 league game this year so we know how difficult it’s going to be.”
Playing Elgin so soon again, gives us a chance to right the wrongs of that poor performance up in Elgin, and Swifty agreed.
“We play teams in the league 4 times, so it’s good to have a look at them and obviously we know them from last season, when we had a good record against them. However, they look like they’ve improved and have a bit more physicality and a bit more bite about their play as well. I think it will be a really tough match.”
One player that Swifty will have to finish the season without is Craig Bryson. The midfielder announced his retirement this week, and Swifty paid his respects and gave his thoughts on a replacement.
“Ideally, we know that the loan market is open until the end of September, so it will be one that we’ll try and replace, but we want to replace with the right player and we won’t be rushing into anything and we want to make sure that it’s the right person and hopefully we can get it done.
“But, with Craig it was definitely a gamble worth taking in terms of knowing that there might have been a problem with the fact the he wasn’t fully fit. But, for us, to get a shot at Craig Bryson was a dream come true and unfortunately, it didn’t quite work for him. But what we gained was him showing his professionalism to the lads and everything that he did about the club was absolute class and everything was positive.
“And I wish him all the best for his retirement because he’s had an unbelievable career.”
Without Brys though, the gaffer has a full squad at his disposal this weekend.
“It’s really pleasing to have a full squad on the training ground so that we can work on stuff. Especially when we’ve changed the shape a few weeks ago, so it’s important that we continue to develop that. But, ultimately, I think the players attitude has really improved and I hope that we can go into Saturday and continue that attitude and effort that they’ve been showing recently.”
One player that’s lit up the fans this season is Will Sewell. The striker was brought in during the summer from Largs Thistle and has really hit the ground running with his new team.
The website spoke to Will this week on this weekend’s match.
“Aye, we need to kick on and go for the 3 points and keep this run going and take us up the league. Then we’re off to East Fife on Tuesday and will try to push on even further and get away from that run that we were on.”
Will’s scored in the last 2 matches and we asked how important it was to keep that run going.
“It’s brilliant, especially 2 in 2, 2 goals in 2 starts in the league and I want to get more. Every time I’m on that park, I want to score goals and if I’m scoring the goals then we’ve got a right good chance of winning.”
Will is one of the new boys and we’ve asked how he’s found the dressing room, especially after the poor run of form at the start of the season.
“It’s been good. We’ve stayed together and stuck together through that period of time and that got us though it. We knew that we weren’t doing well enough and we knew that something had to change and it did and now we’re starting to win games, we’re playing better and the changing room is bouncing now.”
MATCHDAY INFORMATION
Kick-off: 3pm
Match Entry: Both home and away fans can enter via pay at the gate [cash] or you can purchase your ticket in advance by using Fanbase. Adult admission costing £14, concessions £9 and under 16’s just £5.
Getting Here: Click here for details of how to get to Ochilview by car or train.
Season Card Holders: Season Tickets are valid for this match, the Season Ticket number will be displayed at the turnstiles.
The Pie Hut: Food and drinks will be available to be purchased once again from the Pie Hut.
The Wee Bar: The Wee Bar is open from 12pm with all fans welcome.
Ochilview Matchday Guide: You can read our Matchday Guide here and ensure that you have everything that you need for your visit to the ground.
Referee: Alan Newlands
Assistants: Brian Christie & Sean Duff
OPPOSITION INFORMATION
Full name Elgin City Football Club
Nickname(s) City or The Black and Whites
Founded 1893; 129 years ago
Ground Borough Briggs, Elgin
Capacity 4,520 (478 seated)
Chairman Graham Tatters
Manager Gavin Price
2021–22 Scottish League Two, 9th of 10
Last 10 Matches
| Date | Venue | Competition | Opponent | Result | Score |
| 3/9/22 | Home | League Two | Bonnyrigg Rose | W | 2-0 |
| 27/8/22 | Away | League Two | Dumbarton | L | 1-2 |
| 23/8/22 | Home | SPFL Trust Trophy | Stenhousemuir | W | 3-1 |
| 20/8/22 | Home | League Two | Stranraer | D | 2-2 |
| 13/8/22 | Away | League Two | Forfar | D | 2-2 |
| 9/8/22 | Home | SPFL Trust Trophy | Dundee United B | W | 1-0 |
| 6/8/22 | Away | League Two | Stirling Albion | D | 2-2 |
| 30/7/22 | Home | League Two | East Fife | L | 1-3 |
| 23/7/22 | Home | League Cup | Queen of the South | L | 0-2 |
| 19/7/22 | Home | League Cup | St Johnstone | L | 2-4 |
Top Scorers
| Name | Goals | Assists | Played | Goals per 90 | Mins per Goal | Total Shots | Goal Conversion | Shot Accuracy |
| Kane Hester | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0.54 | 168 | 21 | 24% | 48% |
| Russell Dingwall | 3 | 2 | 8 | 0.38 | 237 | 14 | 21% | 57% |
| Darryl McHardy | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0.28 | 325 | 17 | 12% | 71% |
| Brian Cameron | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0.13 | 713 | 5 | 20% | 40% |
| Matthew Cooper | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0.11 | 855 | 3 | 33% | 67% |
The statistics shown for each player include any goals they may have scored in the following competitions in the current season: Scottish League Cup, Scottish League Two
FIXTURE INFORMATION
Last 10 Meetings
| Date | Venue | Competition | Result | Score |
| 23/8/22 | Away | SPFL Trust Trophy | L | 1-3 |
| 9/4/22 | Away | League Two | W | 2-0 |
| 29/1/22 | Home | League Two | W | 2-1 |
| 18/12/22 | Away | League Two | D | 2-2 |
| 25/9/21 | Home | League Two | L | 1-2 |
| 13/4/21 | Home | League Two | W | 2-0 |
| 19/12/20 | Away | League Two | L | 0-2 |
| 18/1/20 | Away | League Two | W | 3-2 |
| 3/12/19 | Home | League Two | D | 2-2 |
| 17/8/19 | Away | League Two | W | 1-0 |
Head to Head
| Total | Won | Drawn | Lost | |
| Home | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Away | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
ON THIS DAY – 17 September
| Year | Opponent | Competition | Venue | Result | Score |
| 2016 | Peterhead | League One | Home | D | 2-2 |
| 2011 | Albion Rovers | League Two | Away | D | 1-1 |
| 2005 | East Fife | Division Three | Home | W | 2-1 |
| 1994 | Hamilton | Challenge Cup [R1] | Away | L | 0-2 |
| 1991 | Queens Park | Division Two | Home | L | 1-3 |
| 1988 | Arbroath | Division Two | Away | L | 1-5 |
| 1983 | Forfar Athletic | Division Two | Away | L | 0-1 |
| 1977 | Albion Rovers | Division Two | Home | L | 2-4 |
| 1966 | Albion Rovers | Division Two | Away | L | 1-4 |
| 1960 | Berwick Rangers | Division Two | Away | W | 2-1 |
| 1955 | Berwick Rangers | Division Two | Home | W | 5-1 |
| 1949 | Dumbarton | Division Two | Away | L | 0-3 |
| 1938 | Kings Park | Division Two | Home | W | 2-0 |
| 1932 | Dunfermline Athletic | Division Two | Away | D | 1-1 |
| 1927 | St Bernard’s | Division Two | Away | L | 1-3 |
| 1921 | St Johnstone | Division Two | Away | L | 0-1 |
| Total | Won | Drawn | Lost | |
| Home | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Away | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Total | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
LEAGUE INFORMATION
Fixtures
Albion Rovers vs Forfar Athletic
Annan Athletic vs East Fife
Dumbarton vs Bonnyrigg Rose
Stenhousemuir vs Elgin City
Stirling Albion vs Stranraer
Table
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | League Form | |
| 1 | Dumbarton | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 18 | WWWWW |
| 2 | Bonnyrigg Rose | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 10 | WDLWL |
| 3 | East Fife | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | LWWDL |
| 4 | Stenhousemuir | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 9 | LLLWW |
| 5 | Stirling Albion | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 8 | DWWLD |
| 6 | Annan Athletic | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 7 | WLLDW |
| 7 | Elgin City | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 6 | DDDLW |
| 8 | Stranraer | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 11 | -3 | 6 | LDDDL |
| 9 | Albion Rovers | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 5 | LLWDD |
| 10 | Forfar Athletic | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 | -3 | 4 | WDLLL |
