ARTHURLIE manager Stevie Kerrigan insists the Barrhead side can send a message to their relegation rivals with a shock result against Auchinleck Talbot on Saturday.

Lie climbed out of the drop zone on goal difference with a 2-2 draw at Glenafton on Saturday while Talbot look good for their fourth Premier League title in a row. They are just a point behind leaders Pollok with four games in hand.

Kerrigan concedes that his side will be massive underdogs when they travel to Beechwood Park to face the Scottish Junior Cup holders, but insists the game is an opportunity for Lie to fire a warning shot to the teams around them.

He said: “Going to Talbot is always a highlight of the season – they have been the benchmark for a number of years. It is a game where if you get anything, it is a bonus.

“I’m more than sure that they will win the league this year and probably with a bit to spare.

“It’s a huge challenge for us. But I think the tight pitch there suits the formation we play. It’s a great opportunity for us to go and get a result to send a message to the teams around us.”

Kerrigan was angry with the way his team gave up a two-goal lead in the Glenafton game after looking like cruising to victory.

However he is convinced he has seen enough positives in Lie’s league performances since he took over to give him confidence they can stave off relegation.

With player-coach Chris Mackie coming into form and Gary Smith and Darren Gribben set to return to the side, Kerrigan will have plenty of options in the forward areas for the trip to Talbot.

He said: “I was really frustrated to lose the two points. There was a lot of gutted players in the dressing room after the game.

“We did more than enough to win comfortably. We could’ve been out of sight at half-time – we were playing really well.

“The only way they were going to get back into the game was our mistakes and that’s what happened.

“Generally speaking we’re in decent form. We’ve won two, drawn one and lost one of my four league games in charge. That’s seven points from four after only getting eight in the first nine games.

“We have shown the level we can play at and if we can reach that more often than not for the rest of the season I think we’ll be fine.

“Chris can be an important player for us in the run-in. He is a handful and played well on Saturday. Gary Smith has returned to training and Darren Gribben is back from suspension.”