Peterhead boss McInally calls for unity in battle to avoid relegation

Peterhead boss Jim McInally has issued a rallying call to his players ahead of tomorrow’s crucial League One clash with Brechin City.

The Blue Toon’s 3-1 defeat by bottom side Stenhousemuir last weekend has pulled them deep into the fight to escape relegation.

McInally held heart-to-heart talks with his squad this week to highlight the need for unity in their ranks to ensure they can claw their way back up the table.

McInally said: “We have worked too hard to get into this division to let it slip away without a fight.

“I told the players it is very much a case of us all being in this together.

“That includes any players who may be a little unhappy because they haven’t been featuring as regularly as they might like.

“Everyone, including myself, is going to have to do that bit more to ensure we get ourselves out of the position we now find ourselves in.”

Victory over Brechin could actually pull Peterhead back up to within just two points of the play-off spots in a division that has all of the sides, bar the top two, bunched closely together.

But McInally has banned any talk of promotion in their camp for the moment.

“It has to be safety first,” he said.

“We did well to finish third last season and reach the Petrofac Cup final.

“It’s the same players who were making history for the club then who are now finding victories hard to come by.

“I still have total faith in them, though.

“They still have the ability to compete with the best at this level, all they lack at the moment is the confidence that comes from winning games.”

The Blue Toon will face Brechin at Balmoor without top scorer Rory McAllister, who is suspended after being sent off at Stenny.

Simon Ferry is out with a back injury but midfielder Scott Brown returns after serving his ban.

McInally said: “Brechin will be looking at the fact Rory is banned and thinking we will struggle. But it’s a chance for someone else to come in and prove they can get the goals we need.”