STEWART HOUSTON never doubted his team-mates' ability to turn things around at Sauchie as they finally secured their first league win of the season.

The Reds' stuttering start to life in the Premier Division had left them languishing at the bottom of the league with only a point to their name before Saturday's trip to Whitehill Welfare.

But, a terrific performance from the Wee County side and goals from Stevie Dolan and Graeme McGregor – either side of a penalty for Whitehill – were enough for all three points.

Sauchie remain bottom of the table but a win over the same side at Beechwood Park this weekend would be enough to take them out of the relegation zone.

For Houston, the struggles have been as much a learning experience as anything but he always believed happy days would come again.

"You get those things in football," he told Advertiser Sport. "I have fortunately never really been in a situation like that so it was an unknown for me.

"But, you get things like that and it brings out the true characters in your changing room and the people who want to step up to the mark.

"It was a good three points to get against them as they are second bottom and hopefully we can push on when we play them again.

"That's us out of the rut but we are not a bad squad and it was just a bad run of form.

"When you are down there and you are playing those games you never get any luck. We weren't getting the wee fortunate spells the teams against us were getting.

"Once we have got the first win it makes it a lot more positive."

Sauchie's bad luck this season has been well documented and as well as dealing with managerial changes off the pitch, they have had to cope with injuries on it.

One thing has remained clear to Houston throughout it all; this is a squad united.

He said: "I missed a lot of the start of the season through injury but since I have been back the squad is well gelled.

"There's no divides or conflicts in the dressing room and everyone is part of one squad who want to push on and do well.

"It doesn't really matter what goes on behind the scenes and it shouldn't affect you as players.

"You've got the three guys who have been looking after us and putting training sessions together and it is through no fault of theirs that we have been losing.

"It has been down to the players on the park not doing the business.

"Another three points is pretty much vital so we can push on from there and pick up as many points as possible.

"I know we will kick on from here and we will pick up the points we need."