The Farmer’s Boys fell to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of runaway league leaders Pollok on Saturday but Whiteford saw enough in that showing to believe ‘Ton can stay up.

With crucial fixtures against Yoker, Shettleston and Rutherglen Glencairn on the cards, Neilston need to quickly find a run of form.

Whiteford told Barrhead Sport: “The league table doesn’t look too good but there are still six games left to play.

“We have been playing well and we would have probably hoped to be sitting a bit higher in the table than we do right now.

“We have had a number of draws and defeats from winning positions. We have just struggled to finish teams off all season and that has cost us a lot of points.

“But, I have seen enough to believe we can achieve a mid-table position. Our performances haven’t been that bad and if we can find a way to tighten up at the back then we should be ok.” Whiteford has pinpointed the upcoming ties with Yoker and Largs Thistle as potential wins and an ideal opportunity to open up a gap between the Farmer’s Boys and the bottom of the table.

John McAulay’s Yoker currently sit one place behind Neilston but have a number of games in hand.

Whiteford added: “We still have Yoker to play twice and it is two games were I would be hoping to come away with maximum points.

“The Largs game is another where we should be hoping to bag a victory, and if you add that to the games with Shettleston and Rob Roy then there is a good chance of staying up.

“If we manage to hit a run of good form then we could end up finishing comfortably in 11th position, but we need to start seeing out games.” Whiteford has also moved to add to his squad with the addition of Allan Diack from the amateur ranks.

Diack was an substitute against Pollok on Saturday but Whiteford is hoping he can make an impact in the coming weeks.

He said: “He has been in for quite a while now and is a good strong player.

“We have quite a small squad just now and everyone will be given an opportunity in the coming games as the squad will be stretched.”