Manager Peter Murphy is hoping Annan can return to winning ways tomorrow against Elgin after a disappointing loss to Cowdenbeath last week.

After a poor first half against the Miners, which saw them go in three down and a man short with Christian Nade sent off, Murphy was happy with his team’s second half efforts.

Murphy admitted he was “disappointed” at the mistakes which led to two of Cowdenbeath’s goals, and insists if they cut those out, Athletic can get back to winning ways.

“We lost two goals initially from mistakes from ourselves, so we need to cut out the individual errors,” said Murphy.

“If we do that, we will be more than ok.

A win over Elgin tomorrow will put more daylight between themselves and their opponents.

With play-off rivals Stirling and Queen’s Park having tough games against the top two, Cove Rangers and Edinburgh City respectively, it is a big opportunity for Annan to cement their top four aspirations.

Gavin Price’s City have had an up and down run of form, but have lost their last two games, and Annan will hope to add to their woes at Galabank tomorrow.

Murphy understands what a win could do for their play-off hopes and despite Elgin’s patchy results, he is expecting a difficult match.

“They’re all big games,” said Murphy.

“Fair play to Elgin, they haven’t really won that many games, but they’re one of the best footballing sides in the division and they’ve got one of the best striker in Shane Sutherland.

“So it’s certainly a very difficult task, but if we pay attention to the details, cut out the sloppy individual errors, as I said, we’ll be more than ok.

“We’re the third highest scorers in the league, but we have conceded a heck of a lot more goals than we should have.

Annan have yet to beat tomorrow’s opponents this season, having drawn with them in their opening home game of the season in August, then being thumped 4-0 at Borough Briggs in November.

So Murphy will be hoping Athletic get that elusive first win against City tomorrow, and can put last week’s defeat well and truly in the rear-view mirror.

Murphy said: “We will be looking to get back to winning ways against a difficult opponent.

“The division we’re in is very, very tight and anybody can beat anybody on the day, so i's just about putting a little run together.

"If that starts on Saturday it'll be great, but there's no big drama if it doesn't.

Murphy will be without Nade following his red card, and confirmed he has injury doubts over Nthan Ferguson (hamstring) and Scott McLean (ankle). A couple of other players have been ill, but are expected to recover in time for the game.

Meanwhile, in the Northern League Division One, Penrith travel to Seaham Red Star tomorrow, hoping to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat to Bishop Auckland last weekend.

With just six points currently separating the bottom six sides, any points picked up over fellow strugglers could be crucial, and a win on Wearside will see Penrith leapfrog their opponents in the table.

In Division Two, fifth placed Carlisle City will hope to make it back to back league wins when they face Crook Town, who sit one spot above them in the table.

City won at Chester le Street last weekend, and despite crashing out of the Comtek Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup on penalties to the same opponent on Tuesday, they will be hoping for a repeat of their league form in tomorrow's home game.