THERE'S still time for Sauchie to save their season and Premier Division status.

But, Ant McTaggart knows if they are to do so they will need to pick up points sooner rather than later.

Following their defeat to Camelon Juniors on Saturday, the Reds currently sit second-bottom of the East of Scotland's elite and only a point above basement boys Whitehill Welfare.

To compound their plight, Fraser Duncan's side have played considerably more games than their relegation rivals so could find themselves cut adrift if the likes of Jeanfield Swifts and Musselburgh Athletic win their matches in hand.

McTaggart has been around long enough to know the dangers their fraught position entails and with Blackburn United and Dunbar United to come at Beechwood Park he knows their future could be a lot clearer even before Christmas Day.

He told Advertiser Sport: "We have two games at home which we need to get six points from to have any chance of staying in the league.

"The next couple of weeks will be massive and we've played a lot more games (than our rivals) and that's worrying.

"When you have two home games coming, we can then see where we are after that.

"But, as I say, we definitely need to get six points from those games to have any chance."

McTaggart was involved on Saturday as the Reds' three-game unbeaten run came to a stuttering halt to Camelon Juniors.

The league's surprise packages – who are just four points behind leaders Bo'ness United – were clinical in-front of goal as Sauchie were made to rue missed chances.

McTaggart, 26, said: "We weren't at the races and we didn't really kick on after Craigy (Donaldson) scored the goal. Instead, when we missed the chance right after it, our heads dropped and it wasn't meant to be.

"But, it's got to be better and in this league you have got to take your chances and you can't be missing three, four chances without making the keeper work.

"You won't be winning games like that and we know it."

He added: "We need to play much more like we had in the last two games where we got two wins and a draw.

"We missed Kyle (Turnbull) and he's been really good for us and could have given us a wee lift.

"In the first-half we were lucky to go in only two down and it could have easily been three.

"We came out at the start of the second-half and started alright but didn't kick on from getting the goal.

"There were too many, myself included, who were just not at the races and we weren't good enough.

"We weren't putting our foot in or being brave on the ball and when we got it we were just kicking it out of the park.

"These are simple things you will just not get away with in this league and we need to relax."