Bollan believes matches between title rivals will determine championship

Feb 3 2011 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Gary Bollan

GARY BOLLAN believes the scrap for the Second Division championship crown will come down to the results between the four major title contenders.

The Livingston boss reckons the matches between themselves, second-placed Brechin City, third-placed Ayr United and Forfar Athletic, who have a number of games in hand, will determine the destination of the league crown.

And after the Lions sealed a comfortable 2-0 win over nine-man Brechin City on Tuesday evening, the league leaders are now due to head to Somerset Park a week on Saturday to meet Ayr, with Bollan admitting that the next few weeks are shaping up to be a crucial period for Livingston.

Bollan, whose side are idle this weekend due to the Scottish Cup fifth-round ties, said: “It’s looking at the moment that the games between ourselves, Ayr, Brechin and Forfar could be key but right now we’re just looking after ourselves and, if we do that, we’ll be fine.

“It was a great win against Brechin and one I thought was thoroughly deserved as we were the better side throughout, from start to finish.

“The players at the back never put a foot wrong and Paul Watson and Craig Barr marshalled Brechin’s dangerman Rory McAllister extremely well.

“Our full-backs performed fantastically down the sides and the midfield to front pressed the ball and didn’t give Brechin a minute’s peace.

“The 11 who started the game on Tuesday night did themselves proud.

“We played well and we needed a big performance as it was a big game, and we have another next week when we go to Ayr.

“It’s two massive games and we’ve successfully done the first now but we’ll have to produce a similar one at Ayr.

“Brechin will still be challenging, as that is only the second league defeat they’ve had all season – both to us – so we know that they will be up there, winning games and pushing us.”

With the Scottish Cup moving back into the spotlight this weekend, Livi’s inactivity gives Bollan the chance to watch Brian Reid’s (pictured below) Ayr side in their fifth-round clash with SPL St Mirren – although he confesses he’d rather be leading the Lions into a tie of their own.

He continued: “I’d rather be playing in the cup than having a free weekend but it does give me the opportunity to go down and watch Ayr v St Mirren on Saturday.

“But the boys won’t be getting a rest this weekend as we have a friendly against Falkirk on Saturday morning.”

Bollan also revealed stopper Cammy MacDonald was due to visit a specialist yesterday in a bid to learn the extent of his knee injury which is feared could keep him out for a considerable length of time.