Peterhead manager Jim McInally reckons that the Blue Toon have created an unwanted record this season by having to make substitutions for injuries in the first half hour in more than half of their games so far.
The tone was set in their opening day fixture at Tannadice against Dundee United in the Betfred Cup when Josh Mulligan limped off after 9 minutes with Ben Armour having to come off with a minute more played in their next game against Brechin City.
Simon Ferry suffered a hamstring injury after half an hour in the Balmoor side’s opening league game at Airdrie and after four games where no first half replacements were made the jinx has returned.
In the Betfred game against St Johnstone 11 days ago Armour left early again with Ferry lasting only 13 minutes in Saturday’s 1-0 league success over Dumbarton with Jim saying: “I have never known a run like this before. We have had injuries all season that have affected our starting line-up, and therefore we are going in short and then having to change our plans really quickly.”
“Sometimes we have been making changes up on the spot as we have been losing players so early in games and need to get someone on. To have to do that in five games so far must be some sort of unwanted record.”
Jim added: “We have had six different central defensive pairings so far in only 9 games and against Dumbarton at the weekend we ended up with one of our best midfielders this season, Andrew McCarthy, at right back after just 13 minutes.”
“Our players deserve credit for adapting so quickly and winning on Saturday.”
© Craig Stewart/ Peterhead Football Club
