Buckie Thistle manager comforts defender Sam Morrison over penalty error against Clachnacuddin as Jags thrown Highland League lifeline by draw between Brechin City and Banks O' Dee
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Buckie Thistle's shock home defeat to Clach will be forgotten if they win tonight and close the gap on the leading two.
Jags were handed a boost without kicking a ball when leaders Brechin City and second-placed Banks O' Dee fought out a goalless draw at Glebe Park.
Graeme Stewart's men play host to Moray coast rivals Lossiemouth tonight knowing a win puts them back into third place and closer to the front runners.
Saturday's 3-2 defeat to Clach in Buckie's first game at Victoria Park in three months came about after stopper Sam Morrison's rash tackle handed the Inverness side a penalty, which they scored with the last kick of the game.
Stewart said his centre back was "gutted" and refused to blame him for the defeat, with the manager saying some responsibility lies on his own shoulders.
"I look at my own performance because I put (centre back) Jack Murray up front," Stewart said. "I could have kept him in defence but I felt that three points were more important than one.
"I am analysing that, if that was a mistake from my point of view. I ask myself if I could have done better in the same way that I do with the players.
"In my opinion, I don’t think it was the wrong decision.
"Sam Morrison had the situation under control and he dived in when he didn’t have to. But Sam is one of the best players in the Highland League and he will learn from it.
"He messaged me to say how gutted he was but there’s no blame attached to him because at the end of the day we should never have been in the position we were, having to chase the game to get the result we wanted.
"Sam shouldn’t be feeling responsible in any way, shape or form. Should I feel responsible? Well not really, because we should be out of sight.
"You take it on the chin. In hindsight I would probably have kept Jack back in defence and Sam wouldn’t have had to dive in then. But when you’re in the 90th minute and you’re drawing at home to Clach, then that’s the bigger issue than having to settle for a draw."
Stewart admitted he took the brunt of the stunning result that sent shockwaves through the Highland League, beating himself up about how things could have worked out differently.
"I was depressed like you wouldn’t believe on the night of the game. I was over analysing and overthinking things.
"But I look at my experience and ability as a manager. I would say it’s pretty good for what I’ve done, and I see that this same set of players beat probably the three hardest teams in the league, all away from home in three consecutive games.
"When you get a result like the Clach one, it comes down to how you react to it as a team and I’ve got no doubt that we will, starting on Wednesday.
"I have managed and played for league-winning teams and that’s what I keep saying to the players.
"Myself, Lewis Mackinnon, Hamish Munro, we’ve got the experience and I think we have shown it over 20 years as players and managers that we know what we are doing and the players buy into that."
