McCormack remains bullish about his side's survival hopes

Gateshead head coach Steve McCormack has admitted Sunday's match against fellow strugglers Leigh could decide their Championship fate this season.

McCormack's side are four points behind Leigh with three games to play and the Scotland coach realises a defeat will put paid to his side's survival hopes.

"They come here knowing a win will see them safe, we know it's a must-win game for us," he told BBC Newcastle.

"If we win our next three games, that'll see us safe."

Thunder have done well to remain in with a chance of survival, after some damaging mid-season defeats looked to have condemned them to the drop.

Wins at Toulouse, Leigh and a home defeat of Widnes have given the Tynesiders a hope of avoiding relegation back to Championship One after just one season.

"At this stage of the season we want to be scrapping and fighting," he said.

"A lot of people wrote us off, and a lot of people have still written us off, and there's nothing better than proving people wrong.

"I've got the belief we can do that, but we have to play well and play to our full potential to beat this Leigh side."

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