We've got to hold our nerve, says Hegarty

Apr 9 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

PAUL HEGARTY knows what it’s like to lead a team to title glory.

The Livingston manager was skipper of Dundee United’s Scottish Premier League title-winning side in 1983, so when he says this is the time of the season when title challengers start to feel the heat you know he knows what he is talking about.

Livingston moved up to third in the First Division title race last weekend but are still eight points off the pace.

But with five games still to go Hegarty insists there is still everything to play for as the race to the SPL enters the final sprint.

He said: “The players have signalled their intent and set the tone for an exciting finish to the season.

“It is an old cliche to say we are taking it one game at a time but we really are.

“Who knows where we could end up if we win all our games but we’ll be trying our best to do that.

“There isn’t really any pressure on us as it is all on St Johnstone and Partick Thistle.

“We have kind of sneaked up unnoticed despite the fact we’ve been there or there abouts all season, and if we can keep doing what we are doing then hopefully we can put pressure on the rest.

“There are five games to go, which is plenty time for things to change and I’ve been over the course before and know this is the time when nerves could start to jangle but it could happen to us or one of the other sides. Coming to the end of the season you want to be challenging at the top and we are.

“It would be nice to be on top with a few more points but we have done well and hopefully we can put a bit of pressure on Saints and Thistle.”

While Livingston were beating Clyde 1-0 at Broadwood, the top two in the table were taking points off one another as they battled to a 1-1 draw.

Hegarty admits it was a terrific win for his title-chasing Lions.

“It was another three great points for us especially the way Clyde were playing,” he admitted.

“They are fighting for their lives and we had to play well. The only time we lost our way a little was when they went down to 10 men.

“We worked ever so hard and showed the determination and fighting spirit which has carried us to third place as we approach the final few games.”

Livingston are back at Almondvale on Saturday when Greenock Morton come calling.

They will come to West Lothian on the back of a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Dundee and they are just a single point behind Livi in fourth place.

A win for the visitors would see them leapfrog the county club and Hegarty has warned it will be a tough game.

He added: “Davie Irons has Morton firing again and they had a great win over Dundee at the weekend.

“But all the games are tough in this league and there isn’t much between many of the teams. All we can do is our best.”