Shotts 'have nothing to lose' in title bid, says boss

John McKeown says his Shotts side have nothing to lose as they battle for the West of Scotland First Division title – having been tipped for relegation.

Shotts head for Renfrew on Saturday and sit sixth in the table, with four games in hand over leaders Drumchapel United, but with a seven-point gap between the sides.

McKeown isn’t setting any targets, but given that they’re safe from the drop, his side can play their own game.

He said: “Most people were tipping us for relegation at the start of the season, so we’re in a good position just now, and we can’t go down, so now we’re looking up the way and see where it takes us.

“We’re in a position where we have nothing to lose, so we can go and express ourselves the way we’ve been doing.

“The boys have been excellent so far, and after four or five weeks you never know where it can take you.

“I’d much rather be in the position we’re in now than what we were in last season [fighting relegation] and I keep saying that to the boys.

“We’ve still go the highest average points in the league and we’re in a semi-final, so you’ve got to take that.”

Saturday’s West of Scotland Cup semi-final clash against Darvel was rained off at Hannah Park.

McKeown said: “I saw how hard they were working on it, but I knew they were fighting a losing battle when I saw the forecast for the Friday.”

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