Shotts Bon Accord face 'big ask' in defining week for title push with three games in five days

Shotts face a defining week for their West of Scotland First Division title hopes and boss John McKeown admits it will be ‘a big ask’ to stay on course for the trophy.

With three games in hand over leaders Drumchapel, fourth-place Bonny play sixth-place Johnstone Burgh tonight at Hannah Park and then host The Drum on Thursday night before a trip to third-place Rutherglen Glencairn on Saturday, as they look to close the six-point gap at the top.

Goals from Paul McGeough and Rico di Marco earned Shotts a 2-0 win at home to Petershill on Saturday to help them climb to fourth, and McKeown knows they face a pivotal period of games.

He told Lanarkshire Live Sport : “It is going to be a big week. We are at this crazy stage of the season where we can’t take our eye off the ball for a minute.

“Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday is bonkers and it is a big ask. We aren’t going to win them all – and I don’t think any team would in such a short space of time – so we just need to work as hard as we can to get the best results we can.

“I’ve said to the boys that, regardless of what happens now, I am so proud of their effort and commitment so far and I just hope they can get over the line. It is so tight and there are going to be slip-ups, but we’ll give it our all.”

On Saturday’s win over Petershill, McKeown added: “We had a flu bug running through the squad this week so Josh Gracie and Ally Martin weren’t able to start the game due to that, but Ally came on and done well.

“It seems to be one thing after another with a few hamstring injuries in the team as well but, fair play to them, they seem to be standing up to it and giving their all.

“I felt we were worthy of our 2-0 lead at half-time and in the second half we just did what we had