Winters gets thrown a lifeline by Livi

Jan 22 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

DAVID Winters spent three weeks training at Almondvale desperate to win a deal with the club.

The striker had been freed by Ross County and was facing the new year without a club.

But he was thrown a First Division lifeline by Livingston boss Paul Hegarty who invited him to West Lothian for a few weeks training and to cast his eye over him.

Winters showed his old Tannadice gaffer enough to win a long-term deal and he repaid that faith with a strike that earned the Lions a 1-1 draw against Clyde on Saturday.

It was the 25-year-old’s first run-out in a few weeks but Winters insists there is more to come once he gets back to full match speed.

He said: “I don’t think my match fitness is quite there yet but I’ve played two reserve games and now most of a competitive match so hopefully I’ll be sharp.

“But that can only come with games. I like the style of play at the club and the fact they play football suits me. All the boys are brand new and have made me feel very welcome.”

Winters marked his Almondvale bow with a well-taken goal but he admits to being disappointed with his debut following his part in the Clyde leveller.

He continued: “The boss wanted me to hold onto the ball a bit better but he was happy I managed to scored in my first game.

“But I did apologise at half-time though for giving the ball away for Clyde’s equaliser. I gave the ball away needlessly on the half-way line and it put a dampner on my goal.

“The weather was awful though and I thought we could have won it at the end. We had the wind behind us but their keeper made some great saves. The one Murray Davidson hit would have gone in on any other day.”

Winters reckons Saturday’s draw was a point gained. With all of their promotion rivals also being held to draws the title battle is still very much on.

“We are only seven points behind and we are one of a few teams who will believe they can win promotion.

“If we can win a couple of games and close the gap we could make it interesting. Anybody can beat anybody in this league.

“It could all come to our games against St Johnstone. It would be great if we could win our next couple of games and get a bit of pressure on them before we play.

“But it’s one game at a time and we’re just concentrating on our next game against Morton right now.

“It is always tough to get anything down in Morton and I think they’ve only lost once at home all season.

“Hopefully we can set up our stall, stick to our gameplan and put away any chances which come our way.”