With Brechin trailing by two goals and the second leg of their play-off semi-final to take place at the home of Championship outfit Alloa this afternoon, there would be few willing to bet that City can pull off a notable “great escape” .
However, Glebe gaffer Ray McKinnon is certainly not one of them.
The manager is convinced his players can turn things around in dramatic style after a desperately disappointing first leg at home on Wednesday night.
Brechin just never got going against Danny Lennon’s side and it was no surprise when the Wasps took the lead through former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra.
It looked like Brechin might escape with just a one-goal reversal but deep in stoppage time, on-loan Dundee defender Kyle Benedictus rose highest at a corner to head in a second for Alloa leaving Brechin with a mountain to climb this afternoon.
However, McKinnon remains positive and insists his team will have a real go at the Wasps’ Indodrill stadium.
He said: “There is no getting away from the fact that it was a really flat performance in midweek and we never created anything.
“Alloa have a strong back four but we never really tested them. Overall, they were better than us on the night.
“I was speaking to our chairman afterwards and we agreed we never seem to do well in midweek games maybe because of the travelling the lads have to do after work but I am sure we will be back to more like ourselves on Saturday.
“The boys are definitely hurting and I possibly could have given them a rollicking after the game but I have stressed to them that we are still in this and are well capable of turning things around.
“They play on astro-turf but I believe we are well suited to that surface.
“The first goal will obviously be crucial but while it is a bit of a balancing act, we will definitely take the game to them we will not be cautious.
“They are probably already thinking they are in the play-off final.
“We only have one chance at this and we have nothing to lose so we will try to outplay them and hopefully get through to the play-off final.”