Jeanfield Swifts goalkeeper Mark Mitchell plotting pressure push on league leaders Linlithgow Rose

Jeanfield Swifts goalkeeper Mark Mitchell sees Saturday’s Premier Division fixture as a huge opportunity to apply pressure on Linlithgow.

Swifts sit 10 points back of the current league leaders - who visit the Riverside for a 2.30pm kick-off - but do have a game in hand.

Mitchell is keen to apply as much pressure on the West Lothian club as possible.

“We’ve managed to battle away to get up to second,” the experienced shot-stopper said.

“They are 10 points ahead of us but we do have a game in hand. We’ll certainly be looking to put a bit of pressure on them.

“Ten points does seem a big gap but, if we can win, then win our game in hand, suddenly anything can happen. We want to apply the pressure.”

Swifts head into this weekend’s crunch clash off the back of a 2-1 cup win away at Heriot-Watt University. That had made up for a defeat against Kirkcaldy and Dysart earlier in the month.

Mitchell said: “Last Saturday was a really good test against Heriot-Watt. They are a good outfit, a well-drilled side and it was a solid match for us going into the big one this weekend.

“A couple of weeks ago, against Kirkcaldy, was a disappointing one. We were missing a few boys on that occasion but thankfully we put it right.

“It was important to follow it up with a win. We worked hard so confidence should be high for facing Linlithgow.”

On what he has made of Linlithgow so far this season, Mitchell said: “Linlithgow probably have more pace in their team compared to years gone by.

“They have certainly gone all out to win the league and of course we know it will be a tough test. They beat us down at their place pretty comfortably but we didn’t do ourselves much justice on that day.

“In these games it is the team who makes the least mistakes