David Niven

City skipper David Niven insists that he has not yet given up on leading the club into a promotion play-off slot - despite a festive run that has saw Elgin slip to eight points off the pace.

Three consecutive defeats have left Elgin on the edge but Niven insists that the quality remains in the side to fight their way back into contention.

“We need to pick ourselves up again for our next game against Clyde - it is a match that we simply must win,” Niven said, adding: “We have lost those last three games but we were the better side for large spells - and yet came away with nothing.

“We felt the defeat at Annan was tough enough but the loss at Peterhead was ten times worse than that. I felt we did enough to take something from the game - but in the second half they had a spell on top and took their chances.

“That is the difference at this stage of the season and that is why they are top of the league. If we can’t take our own chances and defend as we did for their winning goal then you are always going to be made to pay.”

Niven had given Elgin an early lead but as has been the case so many times this season, Elgin were made to pay for not holding on to a hard-earned and deserved advantage.

Niven said: “When I scored I did think that it may have been a bit too early as they still had a lot of time to come back at us.

“It was nice to score but disappointing to come away from the match with nothing.”