Griffin will not let go of promotion dream

Feb 19 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

DANNY GRIFFIN is refusing to throw in the First Division towel.

There are eight points between leaders St Johnstone and the Lions while Saints also have the luxury of a game in hand.

But Griffin reckons it’s all still to play for in a league with more twists and turns than a Chinese burn.

He said: “I don’t think the league is finished yet and I wouldn’t count us out of it.

“Saints may be eight points ahead but everybody is beating each other every weekend in this league.

“It’s just a few weeks since Ross County held them to a draw and a week before we had beaten County 4-2.

“So it’s too tight to call but there is no doubt St Johnstone are in the driving seat.”

Lions boss Paul Hegarty worked with Griffin during their spells at Dundee United and when the stopper was released by Ross County he was quickly reunited with his former boss in West Lothian.

And Griffin also relished a second spell alongside old friend and fellow centre-half Chris Innes.

Griffin continued: “I played with Chris Innes at Dundee United so he is a player and a man I’ve known for a long time.

“It’s nice to be back playing alongside him and it’s a good partnership and one which I hope continues.

“I’m really enjoying it at Livingston and I’m absolutely delighted to be back playing football again.

“I have had a few injuries but they’re in the past now and I’m looking ahead now.”

It is two defeats on-the-spin for the promotion-chasing Lions but they have done more than enough in their last two outings to suggest they will have more than a passing say in title proceedings this season.

They should have taken at least a point back down from Perth at the weekend after they rattled the frame of the goal twice.

And Griffin believes with a little bit of luck Livi would be on the coattails of the pace setters.

He continued: “We had a few chances on Saturday, hit both the bar and post while St Johnstone scored with their only chance of the game.

“It didn’t really happen for us at the weekend and if we get a bit of luck then I reckon we could be right up there pushing for the title.

“Silly mistakes are costing us the most. We made some against Dundee recently and we were hurt by them.

“Hopefully any mistakes made this weekend when we meet Dundee again will be made by them. We are desperate to come back with the three points.”

Whatever happens between now and the end of the campaign Griffin is confident Livingston is a club heading in the right direction – built on the foundation stones of some of the country’s top youth prospects.

He added: “I have been very impressed with the youngsters coming through at the club here. There are a few coming through who are really good players.

“Even the ones in the youth team who have come in and joined us in training have really impressed me.

“There’s a good core of young players here and this team has the ability to go places.”