LOOKING forward to Sunday's top-of-the-table match against Ayr this coming Sunday, Brechin manager Michael O'Neill wants a much improved performance from his side, despite a three-one victory in the Angus derby against Arbroath last Saturday.

After the match, Michael said: "We made it unbelievably hard for ourselves and, if I'm honest, I'm sure John (McGlashan) will feel aggrieved and I can understand why.

"Arbroath were the better team for the first 15 minutes of the second half, and they got the goal they deserved to get themselves level.

"Only the injection of Calum (Smith) coming on and getting the goal and then finishing the second one made the points safe.

"It was a game that we made very difficult for ourselves with a lot of basic mistakes which caused a wee bit of alarm.

"We just had a chat about it, and we'll have a chat again this week, because that is as poor as we've played this season and we've got to count ourselves fortunate we got away with a win."

Despite playing against ten men for most of the match Brechin lost a one goal advantage and it took them until the 67th minute to get themselves back in front.

When it was put to O'Neill that it can sometimes be more difficult playing against ten men he responded by saying: "It's a difficult as you make it. That's the reality of the situation and we made it difficult for no reason.

"Our basic stuff wasn't right, and that's the first time we've seen that this season so we'll have to address that."

Michael was also full of praise for super sub Calum Smith, who made the difference against the Lichties by scoring the winning goals, and man of the match Neil Janczyk, who ran the game from the middle of the park.

"The one thing Calum does is make the most of every opportunity he gets. He's a young lad and he knows he's far from the finished article but what he has is a desire to do well and a desire to improve and, when you've got that, you've got half a chance.

"I'm delighted for him because he deserves that, he never gives up. The only player we had on Saturday, apart from Calum, was Janczyk.

"Janczyk was superb, but we had too many people who were under par and we were fortunate to get away with it.

"Maybe at times I can be over critical, but I was just alarmed at some of the basic things we did wrong and we've got to make sure we don't repeat that level of performance."

However, City will have to wait and see about Darren Smith's availability for the trip to Ayr after a reckless challenge from McMullen on Saturday.

"Smith was injured at half-time and we'll have to evaluate how Darren is," commented O'Neill.

Michael also stated that those who came on as substitutes could well have played themselves into the reckoning for Sunday's game.

"Nimmo was taken off because he was below par, as was Diack, and the boys who came in did themselves no harm.

"We have done well at Ayr recently, however, they have a great start like ourselves and we must ensure we are back at our very best in a game that does give us an opprtunity to top the division, even at this early stage. We must concentrate on getting our passing game back in order right from the very start."