Largs Thistle boss Bryan Slavin is calling on the side to go in all guns blazing as they face a must win clash at Irvine Vics on Saturday.

It is a 2pm kick-off at Victoria Park, and Largs need maximum points in their bid to avoid the drop to the Ayrshire District League. Largs have also been boosted by news that goalscoring midfielder Graham Muir may not be suspended after a case of mistaken identity in the referee’s report.

Bryan said: “There is no doubt about it - we need a win on Saturday. We really need to look at being the best team in the bottom five or six. In our last ten league games, we still have Vics, Ardeer, Yoker, Neilston, and Thorniewood home and away still to play.

“From the beginning we were hoping to kick on and get into midtable, but due to different things, that hasn’t happened, and we really need to look at being the best of the rest. I am targetting six wins - that is still enough to get us out of this situation.

This year, it is very close, and Saturday is a cup final, a six pointer - we just want a win to start gaining some ground. If we don’t win on Saturday, it is not quite mission impossible, but it is mission very difficult.” The Thistle boss said he felt Largs didn’t play particularly badly against Rutherglen. He commented: “I didn’t think they were that far ahead of us in terms of quality of play, but we gave away cheap goals, and we were not set up correctly defensively which cost us goals again, and there was some naivety which has been the story of our season.

“The red card against Graham Muir seemed a bit unfair, as Graham pulled out of it at the last minute. I can see how it happened as Graham was watching the ball, and it bounces up, and he followed into it on high. There was no intention of any foul play.” “Graham took his goal very well, and I think that is something we will definitely have to utilise more - Iain Fisher’s long throws, especialy given the simplistic style of play we are going for. We need to get more in the box from long throws which I think is pretty crucial.

“The goal came about from Willie Kinnibugh challenging with a centre half, and the ball broke to Graham and it was good to see him get on the scoresheet. It is good to see Graham on the scoresheet as he has been putting in a lot of good work recently for little reward. And it is important for other players to be in the box to react to the second ball.” The good news for Largs is that Muir may not be suspended, as in a case of mistaken identity, another player’s name appeared in the referee’s report for the red card, and he wasn’t even on the field at that point!

“We are hoping, therefore, that Graham’s red card will be scrapped,” said Bryan.

“I’d love to see us getting the goal ahead and that would take the pressure of us going on the front foot. Yes, we have games in hand over Vics but a draw doesn’t do us much good - a draw is better than a defeat but we need to win.” Keeper Grant Weir has suffered a recurrence of his shoulder injury, and could be out for the rest of the season. However, Creag Little returned to action quicker than anticipated against Rutherglen after a knee knock.

Thistle have added in Willie Kinniburgh, the ex-Partick and Motherwell defender, and Bryan is pleased with his impact so far.

“We are going into Saturday’s game at Irvine Vics all guns blazing - three points is the only option.”