Livingston Women’s boss Paul Jaconelli has called on his players to take control of their SWF Championship clash with Renfrew on Sunday as they look to seal the title.
The Lionesses head into the first post-split fixture needing a single point from their three remaining games to ensure they’re crowned champions.
And while he’s not getting too far ahead of himself, he admitted he’s keen to not prolong the title race longer than necessary even if they do have three bites of the cherry.
Speaking to the West Lothian Courier, he said: “It’s a big game. There’s obviously no getting away from that but we have to treat everything the same.
“There needs to be a happy medium between ensuring they don’t get too hyped up and making sure you don’t go too far the other way and play it down to the extent they lose focus.
“In these types of games, where there will no doubt be a bit of extra nerves from both sides, it’s about who can control and settle that first.
“Let’s go out and do that and then hopefully we’ll be able to show that we deserve to be top of the table.”
He added: “There’s still three opportunities to win it but you can’t go into any game thinking you’d settle for a draw because that’s dangerous.
“We’re doing something right if we’re top of the table - go out and do that and the players should be fine.”
Livingston men’s team boss David Martindale wished the side well in their crucial clash and admitted it would be a ‘huge’ moment for the club if they’re able to clinch promotion to SWPL2.
He said: “It would be a massive achievement and huge moment for the club if they can get it over the line and get the club promoted.
“Everything from the women’s side of things has been really positive since Paul first spoke to me about the idea of coming on board three years ago.
“The relationship has been a real benefit to the football club and works really well.
“We’re all behind them and it would be brilliant for them, and brilliant for Livingston Football Club, if they can go and get themselves promoted on Sunday.”
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