Penicuik Athletic keen to put run together as defender Andy Forbes admits team must 'stand up and be counted'

Andy Forbes has urged his Penicuik team-mates to stand up and be counted

Penicuik Athletic defender Andy Forbes says he and his team-mates must “stand up and counted” if they wish to turn around their current form and put themselves back in the frame for a title challenge.

Kevin Milne and Tony Begg’s side are on a three game winless run in the East of Scotland Premier Division ahead of visiting Blackburn United tomorrow, with last weekend’s 4-1 defeat at home to Dundonald Bluebell arguably their lowest point since taking charge in November 2018.

That result was compounded when Penicuik learned of league leaders Bo’ness United’s slip up 2-1 loss at home to Whitehill Welfare, but Forbes says they can only focus on themselves.

“On Saturday we didn’t do the basics well enough and conceded two early goals. We did have chances to get back into the game but we just weren’t ruthless enough at both ends and we ended up getting punished for it,” said Forbes, who rejoined the club in the summer after a short spell with Berwick Rangers.

“Dundonald were more clinical than us, we were maybe unlucky to be on the end of a 4-1 defeat but we did concede four goals, which at home, is unforgivable. We need to get back to basics, take it game by game and start climbing the table.

“This is when you need to pull together, stand up and be counted. When you are in a winning run it comes a lot easier, but when you are off the back of a few bad results, you need to show a bit of character and togetherness. We are looking to recapture that winning mentality.

“We’ve played less games than some of the teams above us and it would have been a good chance to claw back a few points. It does just show that anyone can beat anyone in this league - that was Whitehill who before the weekend were sitting bottom of the league and they beat Bo’ness who are top of the league. There’s been a lot of results like that, and there will continue to be, we just need to focus on what we control and do our very best to win our own games.

“You always want to go on a winning run to try and build a bit of momentum but being on the back of a few disappointing results we just need to take it one game at a time which can hopefully lead to us putting a run together.”