Lose and title hopes go, says Legg

LLANELLI’S winning record over Premier League leaders Bangor City this season will have little bearing on their fourth meeting of the campaign this Saturday, according to Reds boss Andy Legg.

The West Wales side could trail Bangor by 11 points if they were to lose the Stebonheath Park encounter and Legg reckons his team’s title bid would be all but over.

Both clubs have one victory apiece in the two previous league clashes this term while Llanelli also knocked the Citizens out of the Welsh Cup in December.

Even though they have a game in hand on Neville Powell’s men, Legg feels that defeat this weekend would end their hopes of capturing the Premier League crown.

“We can’t afford to lose,” the Reds manager told the Llanelli Star. “If we lose that our chances disappear quite rapidly.

“Even if we won our game in hand, eight points is a lot to claw back with just eight games to go.

“It can be done, but it’s not easy so we have to be realistic and say we can’t afford to lose.”

Llanelli lost 3-2 at Farrar Road on the opening day of the season before beating Bangor 2-1 in the return league fixture back in October prior to a 4-2 cup success two months later.

And Legg is expecting another close encounter this time around as the sides meet for the first time since the league’s split.

“Credit to Bangor, some wrote them off this year but they have defied those people,” added the former Wales defender. “They are doing well and grinding results out.

“Since I’ve been at the club, games between us have been nip and tuck, you never know which way they’re going to go and there are always goals scored.”

Bangor have a four-point cushion at the top of the league and took advantage of a slip-up by closest rivals The New Saints last weekend to consolidate their position at the summit.

“There’s pressure on them as well because if they want to win the league they have to come to us and perform,” said Legg.

“There are four teams still in the hunt - Bangor, The Saints, Neath and us. Every game is tough and we’ll look forward to this one. We’ll go into it the same way we go into every game.

“We’re disappointed we have only played one competitive game in the last five weeks.”

Legg won’t have midfielder Ashley Evans available as he looks like missing the rest of the season after tearing his cruciate ligament while Craig Moses and Jason Bowen are doubts.