City enter the second quarter of the season today with a home match against Peterhead. The two sides faced each other on the opening day of the season and served up a reasonably entertaining 1-1 draw. After Peterhead’s 8-0 drubbing of Forfar the week-end which put them on level points with City, and unsurprisingly, they leapfrogged Brechin on goal difference in the table.

The Blue Toon did not start the season particularly well, but they have picked up some good results in the past month which has propelled them up the table. Bobby Linn, in particular, has been absolutely outstanding for Peterhead and deservedly picked up the player of the month award for the Scottish Football League in September. He netted 4 goals in the 5-2 victory against Stranraer, 2 goals in the 8-0 thrashing of Forfar, and a solitary goal in the Blues’ 4-2 defeat against Cowdenbeath.

The game gives Brechin the chance to end a disappointing three matches without a win, while Peterhead will be looking to build on their 8-0 win against a depleted Forfar side a fortnight ago.

City manager Michael O’Neill feels it is going to be a difficult match, he said, “We need to get back to winning ways. I think it will be a very tough game though. Peterhead are one of the better teams in the league and although they had a rough start, they have picked up a bit now and are level on points with us.

“They could be among those challenging at the top, so it’s a game we both ‘must win’. I’ve no illusions about the task in hand. We’ve seen that every team in this division are capable of taking points off each other, but we need to get points and a bit of consistency. A wee run of wins could change everything.”

City chairman David Birse is also hopeful of returning to winning ways. He said, “Peterhead will be confident after their good result and we are playing quite well at the moment but these home games are the sort of ones you have to win to challenge for promotion.

“They are a good side though and make no mistake. Hopefully we can put one over them though. We played them on the opening day and got a draw which we maybe should have won, so we’ll go into this game full of confidence.

“Hopefully between now and Christmas we’ll be able to put as many points on the board as possible. It’s always nice to have a few points by Christmas. We’re not positioned too badly though, and if we pick up two good results we’ll be right up there.”

The injury situation at Glebe Park is gradually improving with a couple of long term absentees looking to return to action in the next couple of weeks. Steven Ferguson has recovered from the broken leg he sustained against Peterhead in August, but it still a long way from full fitness. However, City fans were glad to see the combative midfielder make an appearance in the Centenary match against Ipswich last Thursday. Kevin Byers, who has been out with a knee injury, is also due to return soon but today will come too soon for him.

Michael O’Neill added, “We had a game in mid-week which we won 3-2 and Kevin Byers played for half of it, as did Steven Ferguson, so we’re seeing a few players coming back. Grant Johnson may also come into the mix for today’s match but is still doubtful.”

Meanwhile, Peterhead may be without a few players in Martin Bavidge, Chris Hegarty and Ian Good who are all fitness doubts.