Lothian boss reckons it's high time to turn the tide

Spartans have won both Premier Division games and defeated Lothian 5-0 in an Image Printers Cup tie in early August. However, Lothian are Spartans' closest challengers in the league and, last month, ran Spartans close, losing 2-1 after Wayne McIntosh had given them the lead.

"We felt a wee bit of injustice that day because the referee could easily have sent off Spartans' Keith McLeod early in the game and he went on to score one of their goals," said Lothian coach, Fraser Ogilvie. "The game could have been so much different but we just have to get on with it if refereeing decisions don't go our way and I don't think that we reacted very well that day. I spoke to the Spartans management team of Sam Lynch and Mike Lawson after the game and they agreed there was not much between the sides. I think anyone who has seen us this season will agree with that."

Last weekend, Lothian beat Edinburgh City 2-1 although Ogilvie was not too convinced about his team's performance. "If it had not been for the fact our goalkeeper Kevin Swain kept us in the game and that City did not have their shooting boots on, then we would have lost the match. In fact, since we last played Spartans, we have had mixed performances although we are undefeated.

"The state of the pitch at Saughton Enclosure is horrendous and that has not helped us. I don't like blaming the park because it is the same for both teams but we like to get the ball down and pass it which is not possible playing at home." Turning his attention to meeting Spartans for the fourth occasion this season, Ogilvie added: "As it is a cup tie, it will take a bit of the pressure off both teams.

"We don't have a great record against Spartans away from home and they will be expected to win the game although we will be trying to improve on our record. Their Ainslie Park will be in excellent condition and our boys are really up for the game.

"We know that Keith McLeod is a real threat although I thought that we dealt with him really well in our last game. Having said that, he had one chance and scored a goal!"

Wayne McIntosh, Lothian captain and leading goalscorer is suspended so that will put the onus on forwards Craig Hume and Mark Lothian with Jordan Hall tasked with getting the ball to them.

"As a club we want to keep improving each season," said Ogilvie. "Last year, we finished third and this season we would like to win it but that would mean Spartans going into free-fall so second is a realistic aim. We are still in two cups so we definitely want to pick up silverware."

Spartans, despite defeating Selkirk 7-0 at Ainslie Park last Saturday, are keeping their feet firmly on the ground as joint manager Mike Lawson explained. "In December we beat Edinburgh City 7-0 and the following week we were knocked out of the Image Printers Cup semi-final by Vale of Leithen. While everything can go right for a team one week, invariably it can go wrong the next. No team can produce champagne football all the time.

"Last Saturday is history now although I can reiterate that Keith McLeod was totally unplayable for 40 minutes of that game. We left Dean Hoskins, Alex King and Gavin Malin out, not because they had been playing badly, as they would start for any other team in the league.

"Sam (Lynch) and me honestly don't know what our best eleven is. I don't like the word 'rotation', we like to keep things fresh and liven things up and we never have any worries about who we select because of the players at our disposal.

"Although tomorrow is a cup tie I know that Lothian will be aiming to finish higher in the league than they did last season. When I first came into the East of Scotland League in the early 1990s the top teams were Gala, Whitehill and Vale. Then it moved to Annan and Threave along with City, Preston and Spartans. Now the new kids on the block are Lothian and Tynecastle who are challenging in every competition.

"In Lothian's case that says a lot for Tom Allison, Chic McAleavy, Allan O'Neill and Fraser Ogilvie when they have attracted top-quality players who they have moulded into a very good side.

"We know that they will run us close because they like to play football on the ground and pass the ball about. They will not arrive at Ainslie Park frightened of us and they are well capable of beating Spartans.

"I will be reminding our players that we were very poor in cup competitions last season and the emphasis this season is to do much better."

Apart from the suspended McIntosh of Lothian Thistle, both sides have full squads to choose from.

Kick-off is 2.30pm with admission 5 for adults and 2 concessions.