BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
JORDAN White insists Livingston have got what it takes to cope with a nerve-shredding relegation play-off battle – but believes they can still overhaul Dumbarton and secure their league survival before then.
The Lions travel to face Queen of the South this afternoon rooted in second-bottom spot and with a five-point gap to Dumbarton above them.
Defeat today and a win for the Sons at home to St Mirren would seal the Almondvale side’s fate and ensure they would have to pull through a tense two-legged semi-final and final against League One opposition to stay in the Championship.
Having seen Alloa take that route to safety last season, White is adamant Livi would not shrink from that challenge.
But he insists David Hopkin’s men are fully focused on doing all they can to wriggle out of trouble in their three remaining matches.
The striker said: “I still feel that if it was to be the play-offs then we’ve got the players capable of ensuring we come out of them.
“You saw Alloa last season, they did it.
“We’ve got more than enough talent in the changing room to get through that.
“But we don’t want to be looking at that and thinking negatively going into this game.
“We’ve got to go and try and put as much pressure on Dumbarton as we can.
“If we can catch them then brilliant and if they go and win their last few games then fair play to them.
“We can only do our bit and hope results go our way.”
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After today’s trip to Dumfries, Livi host champions Rangers on Tuesday before bringing the curtain down on a difficult campaign with a home clash with Raith Rovers.
Meanwhile, Dumbarton travel to face Hibs and Alloa in their two remaining fixtures.
At this time in the season, opposition teams have different agendas but, although Queens have nothing concrete to play for, White admits their sacking of manager James Fowler this week could pose its own problems.
He added: “It can work both ways. It just depends whether the players react positively or negatively to that.
“They might be thinking of playing for a new manager that might be watching them and that might get an extra two per cent out of them.
“We’ve just got to go and do our business and make sure we put in a good performance and try and get a victory.”
