Edinburgh City relishing their end-of-season run-in as play-off chase continues

Edinburgh City make the long trip to Stair Park.

The third-placed Citizens are on their travels again tomorrow as they visit Stair Park where hosts Stranraer in fifth, also have play-off aspirations of their own.

The Capital men’s 100 per cent League Two record under new boss Gary Naysmith ended on Tuesday night as the home side battled back to secure a point in a 1-1 draw with Annan.

And with just four games remaining before the league is scheduled to split into top and bottom halves – with a further four fixtures to play – 22-year-old Brown accepts there can be no further slip ups over the next few weeks.

"You need to look at the positives and we've not been beaten in six games – all of them have had their own challenges," the former Motherwell youngster said. "The league is very tight for those play-off spots. Stranraer is a difficult place to go and get three points so we're under no illusions how tough it is going to be tomorrow, particularly with them sitting four points outside of the top four. But it's a game we are going into to try and come away with all three points.

"It's going to be a big ask now with so many games in such a short period of time but we just need to focus on ourselves. We need to make sure we finish in the top four so the season can continue."

Brown, who was a second-half substitute against the Galabankies, admits City failed to reach the standards they'd set since the league's resumption last month.

"We've started fast in all of our games apart from the Annan game on Tuesday night so that was disappointing," he said. "We never really got going until the second half when the gaffer changed the formation. But you're going to get games like that and it's just a case of when you do go a goal down you go and find an equaliser. It's not going to be pretty every single time so you have to find another way to pick up points.

"The gaffer wants his team to be fit as possible. He has played at the highest level so he knows what it takes to be successful."

Brown is hoping to be restored to the City starting XI this weekend in Dumfries and Galloway having had to make do with a place among the substitutes in his side's previous two outings.

"You want to play every game – there's no ifs or buts about that," he said. "Whether I start tomorrow or am on the bench again, that's the gaffer's decision and you need to respect that. Everybody has had fresh start since he came in and we've taken that on board. If I'm playing then I'll give 100 per cent as I always do.

"I'm feeling a lot more refreshed having not started the past two games. But I think I've been playing a lot better since we've come back but I think that has down to me as I've been working hard. We as a club are on the up so it's a good time to be here."