Craig Gunn insists firing Elgin City to promotion would mean more than record goal haul

BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport

Elgin City talisman Craig Gunn insists the most prolific campaign of his career will count for nothing if the Highlanders fail to claim a historic promotion this term.

The 28-year-old has bagged 22 goals this season as the Borough Briggs outfit target their first ever promotion since joining the Scottish senior ranks in 2000.

Only East Fife’s Nathan Austin, whose form has earned him a switch to Falkirk, has scored more goals than Gunn as the pair battle it out to become the bottom tier’s top marksman.

However, Gunn insists firing Elgin to League One would mean more than any personal plaudits coming his way.

He said: “This has been my best season in terms of goalscoring and thankfully I’ve been able to put away a lot of the chances that have been created this season.

“That’s always your target as a striker, but it’s a team game and I’m not going to get hung up on how many goals I score. It’s more important that we, as a club, achieve something really special.

“We are attempting to make history. Elgin has never been out of the bottom tier since joining the league and this group of players has the chance to be remembered.”

Gunn, who also plied his trade with Peterhead and Ross County, is adamant he is thriving under the pressure of a fraught title race, with just six points separating the top five in League Two.

Ahead of today’s clash with fourth-placed Annan Athletic he admits it is a welcome change of pace from battling at the bottom of the Scottish football pyramid.

He added: “There is pressure – but it’s a really nice pressure to have this season. Generally Elgin have always been around the foot of the table during my time at the club.

“It is a struggle down there and you go into games feeling like you are going to lose, so that makes this season all the sweeter.

“The manager [Jim Weir] has done a brilliant job, he has brought a wealth of experience and great contacts – especially at St Johnstone – and we are deservedly fighting near the top of the table.

“But we don’t want to be satisfied with that – we want to finish the job.”

With just one win in their last five matches, however, Gunn knows Elgin must turn around their recent form if they are to make up ground on league leaders East Fife.

He added: “We are facing arguably the form team in the division in Annan, but our performances at home this season has been excellent. We want to carry that on. There is still plenty of time to get back to winning ways during the run-in.”