THE Sauchie faithful have taken in trips to Bo'ness, Cardenden, Rosewell in their maiden Premier Division season. 

Not quite locations to make it onto the latest travel guide to Scotland, then, but it hasn't stopped the Reds from being desperate to earn the chance to visit them once again. 

Sauchie's league fate hangs in the balance and they know time is running out to secure a place amongst the East of Scotland's elite next season. 

Craig Donaldson is among those doing all he can to avoid the unenviable fate of trips to Ormiston and he believes the return of Fraser Duncan has given the side a chance of securing the great escape. 

READ MORE: Fraser Duncan calls for 'naive' side to learn lesson from Linlithgow Rose draw

He told Advertiser Sport: "Me, as a player, do I want to go down and play in that other league? Certainly not and I am sure I can speak for all of the other guys in the dressing room.

"We needed that (a manager to come in and be honest). With the management and the two Darrens (Cummings and Petrie) it was their first time and they had been in the changing room with the players. 

"It was maybe tough for them and I feel we needed a manager who could come in and give us a wee bit of a rollicking when we needed it.

"We have gained more points with Fras than before he came in, so the reaction has been there.

"We need to get points on the board. This club deserves to stay in this league." 

Donaldson, who was brought to the club in the summer of 2018 by former boss Iain Diack, sparkled on Saturday as the Reds' battle to avoid the drop stumbled in a draw with Linlithgow Rose. 

The Clacks outfit led at half-time thanks to goals from Jon Tully and Donaldson, but, following a controversial red card for Stewart Houston, were pegged back by the West Lothian side. 

"It's definitely a case of two points dropped," Donaldson, 31, said. "You could look at it in a positive way because we were ten men for most of the second-half and we have not caved in and still got something from the game. 

"But, when you are 2-0 up, it feels like a defeat.

READ MORE: Sauchie pegged back in battle to avoid the drop

"You have got take positives and where we are in the league, we can't afford to let our heads drop. We have to dust ourselves down and be ready for Tranent next week.

"This league is very tough and I have noticed that. We knew it was going to be tough at the start of the season and it doesn't surprise me if a team at the bottom takes points off a team sitting at the top.

"If you have players off it, you can be found out in this league."