Jags boss Ryan Esson says there is still a long way to go this season
Strathspey Thistle boss Ryan Esson said he is not even thinking about who is in the potential relegation mix ahead of a daunting home clash tomorrow with Brechin City.
Four teams have become cast adrift in the Highland League - the Jags (nine points) along with Rothes (10 points) and Wick Academy and Lossiemouth (both on 13 points) who beat the Grantown side 2-0 last weekend.
The next nearest team is Keith on 21 points.
The Jags have games in hand on the three teams above them. A relegation play-off is a very real prospect this season for the first time since it was introduced into the Highland League.
Esson told the Strathy: “I’m not even going there now as we still have 15 games left to play but we do need to start picking up points. That is all we are focused on.
“We have to remain positive.
“I think personally there have been huge improvements with the team - the way we play, the structure that we have developed and fitness levels - and I think the players themselves and a lot of other people can see that too.
“I feel that I have been saying we have been unlucky since I came in but it needs to turn at some point.
“I believe in what we are doing and can see the progress that is being made.
“It is very small margins that are going against us. It is frustrating.”
Esson watched tomorrow’s opponents second placed Brechin in their 4-1 defeat at home to SPL side Hearts in the fourth round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup last weekend.
They had taken the lead in the 23rd minute through Scott Bright before Yan Dhanda equalised in the 40th minute and the Edinburgh side then secured their passage after the cup scare with three second half goals.
Esson said: “We can not go into the game thinking ‘this is too much for us’. We have to go in believing or else there is no point in turning up.
“I played in a team that had to go up against Celtic and Rangers - and we had a bit success especially against Celtic.”
The Jags have no fresh injuries and just centreback Jordan Laidlaw and fellow defender Jamie Calder remain unavailable.
Laidlaw completed his first training session earlier in the week and is expected to be back in the squad in a few weeks’ time after his three-and-half-months lay-off through injury.