Championship crunch time says Bollan

Feb 10 2011 By Eric MacKinnon

GARY BOLLAN admits Livingston are entering a crunch period in their championship challenge, with his side set to lock horns with title rivals Ayr United and Brechin in the coming weeks.

The first of their crucial encounters takes them to Somerset Park this weekend to face second-placed Ayr, who ran out 3-1 winners in the same fixture in October.

Bollan admitted: “The next six weeks are going to be huge with the amount of games we have. We are hoping to go on a run and maybe have the other clubs to slip up. There are a few back-to-back clashes and points to be dropped all over the place, as well as points to be gained.

“We know how hard it will be at Ayr as they turned us over down there earlier in the season.

“They have been on a really good run in which they have beaten an SPL side in the Cup, so we know we are in for a tough game.

“I felt we played well the last time in Ayr but we switched off defensively at a crucial time in the game and we were made to pay for it.”

Stopper Cammy MacDonald will definitely be missing for Livi this weekend as he awaits the results of a knee scan amid fears of a lengthy spell on the sidelines, while fellow centre-half Mick O’Byrne will also sit the match out due to suspension.

Bollan added: “We have guys who can step in and cover in various positions which is a help. Some may not like playing slightly out of position but I know when called upon they will go  out and do a job for us.”