Jags boss Brown hoping run of easier games will bear fruit
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Strathspey Thistle boss Charlie Brown is hoping that a kinder run of fixtures could help kickstart the Jags’ Highland League campaign.
The Grantown club is currently languishing second bottom of the table but in recent weeks have had to contend with a tough run of games against title challengers.
But Thistle are facing most of the teams directly above them in the coming weeks and have a chance of pulling themselves well clear of basement side Fort William with relegation being introduced this season.
The Jags host Huntly tomorrow and then are away to Wick Academy on December 11.
They then have a run of fixtures against other teams going into the New Year facing Clach at home on December 27 and Turriff United on January 8, with trips to Lossiemouth on January 3 and Keith on January 15.
Brown said: “Every game is going to be difficult so it is up to us to keep up the confidence of the players and to continue going the right way to take points off these teams just above us.
“We have suffered a few heavy defeats but the performances of the players in some parts of these games has been good.
“We just need to be doing this more consistently through the games to get points in the coming fixtures.
“We have four or five games approaching where if we play to our capabilities then it is possible that we can take points from them.
“But it is one game at a time and we are not looking too far forward.
“The boys will have their eye on the main aim and that is winning the next game. I’m hoping that they can play well against Huntly and get us the points.”
Strathspey are currently eight points clear of Fort William who have just picked up the single point this season and have a better goal difference as well as having played one game less.
But Brown wants his charges to take control of their own destiny. “Fortunately we do have that cushion but Fort William are capable of having decent spells in games and if they manage to grab a couple of results and get their confidence up then we could end up looking nervously over our shoulder.
“We want to pick up the points and guarantee safety through our own hard-work rather than relying on Fort William losing.”
The Jags are without midfielder Kieran Chalmers this weekend who is unavailable for selection because of a family commitment and young striker Ethan Cairns who is involved in an under-18 match with parent club Inverness Caley tomorrow night.
