Alloa ace Ryan McCord says the whole squad is aware that next two games with rivals Livingston could make or break their whole season.

Mark Burchill’s men are the visitors to the Indodrill Stadium this weekend in a dress rehearsal for the Petrofac Cup final clash between the two sides a week later at McDiarmid Park, but the midfield hero believes they must make the league clash their top priority.

The 26-year-old reckons the relegation showdown in the SPFL Championship presents them with the perfect opportunity to get themselves clear of the dropzone while gaining a mental edge heading into the cup final.

McCord told Advertiser sport: “The Livingston game is now a massive game for us and I think it is fair to say that our season could now be decided in our next two games, but we are well aware of that. If we can win the league game it would put us nine points clear of them in the table and then it gives us a great chance of winning the cup. We have to approach it the same as any game, but we know what’s at stake. We have four home games left now in the league and we must look to pick up points from each one.

“The cup final is a one off game where anything can happen and that will take care of itself, but it is vital that we do not lose next week. The league game is all we are focused on.

“We want the season to end on May 2nd so we must knuckle down to make sure that happens. If we can win then it gives us a huge psychological advantage going into the cup final as well.” The Wasps crashed to another narrow 2-1 defeat at the weekend to Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park, but for McCord it was an all too familiar pattern to the game.

He said: “It is still the same old story for us. First half, we have dominated them with our passing again, but we just weren’t clinical enough. We are playing well in these games, but for some reason we get punished off one chance while at other end we need five or six chances before we score.

“It has been the same against Dumbarton, Falkirk, Queen of the South and more so it is just hard to get our heads rounds why it keeps happening, but hopefully our luck can change on Saturday. It is a positive sign that we are back scoring goals again. ” The former Dundee United trainee made his 150th appearance for the Wee County side last weekend and says he has loved every second of his time with the club so far.

McCord added: “It was a great feeling to played in my 150th game, I have been here at the club for four years now from Division Three right up until now and I have enjoyed every minute of it. The main thing for me has been the chance to play week in and week out with a great bunch of boys, so I will always be thankful to the club for giving me that chance.”