the sidekick

Hamilton Academical 0-1 Livingston match report

2011-12-29T11:56:00.003Z

Bobby Barr was the goal hero as Livingston followed up their fine away win in their last outing at Raith Rovers with another 1-0 success at Hamilton’s New Douglas Park yesterday.

Barr struck in the 70th minute to win what was a tight contest played out in tough conditions, leaving Gary Bollan’s men on the tails of Dundee and Partick Thistle in third and fourth place respectively.

Strong winds meant that football became an increasingly difficult art to master, and both teams struggled to put together much in the way of good play in the opening 45 minutes.

Alan Combe in the home goal was alert to tip a deflection of his own defender round the post, and also denied Liam Fox with a smart save to his right. Kenny Deuchar headed the rebound home but he was flagged offside.

A fine Keaghan Jacobs through ball then played in Bobby Barr, but the winger skewed his effort wide.

In between times Hamilton’s Dougie Imrie and ex-Lion Gordon Smith caused problems in the visitors’ box, but Livi scrambled clear after Andy McNeil had beaten away an angled drive.

Accies started as the stronger side in the second period, whipping dangerous balls into the box, but McNeil in the away goal held firm to keep Billy Reid’s men at bay.

As the game moved past the hour park Bollan brought on striker Mark McNulty for injured left back Jason Talbot, and the Lions turned the screw on their hosts. Keaghan Jacobs robbed Accies of the ball before skipping past two defenders, but his low shot was parried by Combe.

Mark Fotheringham was soon to follow the effort up, but his strike sailed wide of the left hand post. Gary Fraser responded for Accies, his own effort from the corner of the box whistling just over McNeil’s bar.

With twenty minutes remaining the Lions broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion. Bobby Barr picked the ball up on the left hand side before cutting across the edge of the penalty area and unleashing a vicious drive that bulleted past Combe into the top corner.

The goal saw the home side desperately scramble for an equaliser, but despite the bulk of the possession in the closing stages they struggled to create a clear opportunity at goal.

Smith headed over from five yards when he was set up with a golden chance to draw Billy Reid’s men level, and Livi held out for all three points.

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 27/12/11.

Hamilton v Livi: Boxing Day match preview

2011-12-24T08:00:00.004Z

CAPTAIN Liam Fox is desperate for Livingston to get back into action on Boxing Day at Hamilton Academical, after the Lions suffered from their first call off of the season last weekend in the scheduled home match with Ayr United.

Frost and snow saw the game at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium postponed, and Fox admits the players can’t wait to get back out and play in Monday’s 2pm kick off at New Douglas Park.

He said, “Especially after having such a good result as we did at Raith Rovers, we were looking to take that confidence on into to Ayr game last week. Unfortunately it was called off due to weather and it always frustrating when games are cancelled. We’ve just got to look forward to Hamilton on Monday which will be a very big game.”

The match sees the Livi pit their wits against Billy Reid’s men for the fourth time already this season, with a win, a draw and a defeat for the Lions achieved in the three meetings so far. In particular, the league encounters – a 1-1 draw at New Douglas Park and a 1-0 win for Livi in West Lothain – are promising indicators for Bollan’s men.

Fox said, “It’ll more than likely be tight. We’ve played them three times already this campaign, so they know what we’re all about and we know what they’re all about. I think who gets the points is really down to who turns up on the day and performs their best, perhaps more so than in some other games. I think that’s the best way to describe it.”

The Livi squad were given a Christmas surprise by their manager with Bollan telling the players they would have Christmas Day off, and Fox reckons the decision not only shows the trust the Lions gaffer has in his players, but also that the team are desperate to pay back that trust with a win on Monday

He said, “The manager’s given us Christmas day off which was a wee surprise for us. I think he trusts us enough and knows the players he’s got enough to know we can make sure we look after ourselves and watch what we’re eating and the like.

“I think that just shows, as I said, a trust in the players. Christmas is a day to be spent with your family and I think the boys all really appreciate having it off. Hopefully we can pay that back with the three points on Monday.”

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 23/12/11

Raith Rovers 0-1 Livingston report

2011-12-15T22:08:00.001Z

LIVINGSTON manager Gary Bollan saw his side pick up their first league win in three weeks at Starks Park on Saturday, after a Criag Barr header on 56 minutes was enough to see the Lions overcome Raith Rovers.

Bollan watched his side dominate the second half after a tight first period, and coming off the back of defeats to Partick Thistle and Ross County he was delighted with the improvement in the performance from his players in the 1-0 win.

He said, “I thought we merited the 1-0 victory. It was a tight game but I think over the piece we merited the three points.

“The way the game panned out we began to hit them on the counter that wee bit quicker in the second half, and we had more bodies getting forward. In the middle of the park we passed the ball better than we have done in recent weeks too.

He added, “I thought my back four were outstanding as well. We kept things tight when we had to and players were throwing themselves in front of the ball to get the result.”

Livi looked the more composed in the opening stages, holding possession well without ever threatening the Raith goal, and as the home side worked their way back into the game Jamie Walker and then Dennis Prychynenko threatened Andy McNeil’s goal with long range efforts.

Livi responded, with Craig Barr heading a Mark Fotheringham corner over and Marc McNulty having his shot well held by David McGurn at the near post.

The Lions grabbed control of the game after the break, and ten minutes into the second half they took the lead. A Fotheringham corner was flicked on at the near post, and Barr was on hand to direct the ball beyond McGurn.

Despite having plenty possession Raith seemed lethargic going forward, and the visitors looked increasingly dangerous on the break. Jason Talbot and Kyle Jacobs both had efforts well repelled by McGurn, before the home keeper foiled Bobby Barr after he had run the length of the pitch to create a shooting opportunity.

It wasn’t until the ninetieth minute that Rovers manufactured a good chance for an equaliser, but Dougie Hill headed wide at the back post. Then in the second minute of stoppage time the ball fell to Brian Graham in the box, but he scuffed his effort wide of the left hand post and Livi secured a deserved three points.

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 12/12/11

Raith Rovers v Livingston preview

2011-12-10T10:26:00.001Z

CAMMY MacDonald was delighted to be back in first team action for Livingston last Saturday, but was left bitterly disappointed as his comeback saw the side lose out to Partick Thistle.

The defender has suffered a series of knocks this season which have kept him out of the first eleven, but he started at left back in Glasgow in his first league appearance of the campaign after Jason Talbot picked up an injury.

A Conrad Balatoni effort and Kenny Deuchar own goal gave the Jags a 2-0 lead that Deuchar himself halved on half time, but it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat for Bollan’s men. And MacDonald knows the side needs to stop gifting easy goals to the opposition if they are to pick up all three points at bottom of the table Raith Rovers tomorrow.

He said, “It was great to be back playing again against Thistle, even if I’m still a bit short of match sharpness, but I know that’ll obviously take time with being out for a while. I don’t feel I offered as much as I can but it was fantastic to be involved with the first team again.

“I thought it was the sort of game we could have won on another day. The pitch was pretty heavy and the conditions weren’t great but that’s the same for both teams.

“What was disappointing was that we gifted Thistle a couple of soft goals. We’ve given teams goals quite easily lately while we’re being made to work hard for ours and you’re always up against it when that happens.”

Saturday sees the Lions travel to Kirkcaldy to face bottom side Raith, but with the First Division packed tightly from second to last place Livi in fifth spot sit only four points ahead of John McGlynn’s men.

MacDonald added, “Saturday is going to be a very tough game. There aren’t any easy games. Even though Raith are bottom there is very little between the sides in the division.

“You go into every game looking to try to win because of that, and if you have a few of your players having a good day you’re more than likely going to pick up three points. In saying that, if you have a few guys not at their best then you’ll probably lose. That’s the nature of the league we’re in and we know how tight it is.”

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 09/12/11

Livingston's Record Breakers

2011-12-09T09:00:00.001Z

Records area cherished thing in football. Fans in particular love to know who has the most goals, the least red cards, the highest attendances and the best defence. It’s almost second nature to your average football fanatic to put everything and anything in league tables.

And when your own record is an unbeaten home run bettering the likes of Manchester United’s, you want to shout about it. A lot.

I have. Relentlessly. There hadn’t been a day go by over the past eighteenth months where I’d not mentioned to someone, sometime, that Livingston had not lost a game in the town since April 2010. Recently, when Man Utd collapsed to a 6-1 defeat by Man City in the English Premier League we surpassed their own impressive unbeaten run on their own patch. I may have told a few folk about that too.

Then, predictably, it all came crashing to an end - as it had to eventually, of course – last weekend. For the poetic amongst you, just as in the ending of some tragic movie the hero held on just long enough to outlive his closest rival. For those who deal in reality, Ross County came to town and wiped Livi away 3-0 with an impressive second half performance a couple of weeks after the Manchester derby.

It is natural in such circumstances to look for a silver lining. The manager and players trot out the usual lines about it being a disappointment to loose the record they’ve built up but that there’s always next week, and supporters prop up bars after the game convincing themselves that, actually, it’s just as well the unbeaten run has come to an end.

In reality, they’re all seething.

When you’ve not lost at home for such a considerable length of time it does become increasingly difficult to accept such defeat. I’ve sat at Almondvale in the past and watched us getting demolished 4-0 off Partick Thistle, brushed aside 5-0 by Motherwell and assaulted in the dying seconds by Hamilton, losing a game 2-1 we were winning going into stoppage time. But that loss to County hurt more.

Not because they didn’t deserve to win. County are an effective side who will in all likelihood win the First Division this season. They are far stronger in terms of squad depth than any of their rivals. Equally, the fact there were five ex-Livi players on the pitch in County colours, and a fellow ex-Lion in the dugout wasn’t the main source of consternation – although as irony goes it’s not a bad effort.

It was simply that we Livi fans are not used, in recent times, to seeing other sides and supporters have fun in West Lothian. Games were all about indulging in the opposition talking a good game before hand, perhaps giving Gary Bollan’s side a little fright by taking the lead on the half hour mark, but ultimately being overcome. Success makes dirty glory hunters of us all, briefly.

Last Saturday was merely being brought back down to earth. It hurt, but we might well the better for it.

I know – I’m sounding like one of those silver-lining hunters now. But hear me out. There have been games this season where – for the fans anyway – the goal of ensuring we remain unbeaten seemed to supersede that of winning the game. You could feel an anxiety spread amongst the stands as the thought of a not particularly impressive but stodgy outfit who were proving difficult to break down being the side who rumbled ‘the’ home record stumbled towards a reality. They were always cut down in their path eventually, but it was a close run thing on a number of occasions.

We may have finally lost that record, yes, but at least it was to a good side. And now that there is nothing to protect, the prospect of a defeat will no longer sprout arms, legs and wings and become some great symbolic victory over the Lions. It will be reduced to nothing more than one of the three consequences of playing a football match.

In turn, that will hopefully see the anxiety-ridden masses at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium try to relax a little and simply enjoy supporting their side again. In turn spurring the team onto another good run. And another unbeaten home record. And more anxiety. Football’s a funny game.

Then again, perhaps that’s all guff and winning simply feels good, nothing more and nothing less. I bet it felt great to be a County fan last Saturday, in any case.

Partick Thistle 2-1 Livingston report

2011-12-06T23:11:00.001Z

LIVINGSTON boss Gary Bollan bemoaned his Lions side’s defending as Partick Thistle inflicted a third league defeat in four outings on the West Lothian outfit.

On what was a wet and windy afternoon in Glasgow, Bollan saw defensive errors again cost his side – and he knows there is no respite for Livi as they travel next week to bottom of the table Raith Rovers.

Conrad Balatoni and a Kenny Deuchar own goal gave the home side a 2-0 lead before Deuchar popped one in at the other end for Livi just before the break, but despite a better defensive effort in the second 45 the Lions couldn’t find an equaliser.

Bollan said, “I though we started the game well enough, but again we gifted two goals to our opponents For the first one we’ve not defended crosses coming into the box, and on the second one with the swirling conditions Kenny’s gone up for the header and turned it into his own net.

He added, “It’s disappointing, but it’s important we pick ourselves up and go to Raith next week for what will be an important game.”

Livi started the match brightly, with Kyle Jacobs heading a Mark Fotheringham cross just over the bar, before Jacobs saw his turn and shot cleared off the line.

Deuchar then twice came close with headers of his own, but Thistle found themselves ahead soon after. A Paul Cairney cross from the right wasn’t defended well, and Balatoni blasted home from ten yards.

Andy McNeil then had to react quickly to deny Christie Elliot at the near post, but the Jags got their second when Deuchar was caught out by the flight of the ball in the wind and inadvertently headed into his own net from a corner.

The big striker redeemed himself before the break, however, scooping the ball high into the next from six yards after the Thistle defence scuffed two attempted clearances.

Cairney nearly added a third for Thistle before the half time whistle, but his twenty-yard effort sailed wide.

Bollan’s men came out on the front foot early in the second half, but despite Bobby Barr twice drilling low balls across Scott Fox’s six yard box, on neither occasion did a Livi foot manage to turn the ball home.

Thistle saw the remainder of the half out without much difficulty, although there was a late scare for Jackie McNamara’s side when Bobby Barr broke free in stoppage time, but after finding Russell the striker couldn’t engineer a shot on goal.

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 05/12/11

Partick Thistle v Livi preview

2011-12-03T08:01:00.002Z

LIVINGSTON captain Liam Fox is hoping the Lions can put the disappointment of losing their nineteen-month unbeaten home run last weekend against Ross County behind them, as they travel to Firhill on Saturday to take on Partick Thistle.

The sides sit only two points apart in the First Division, and Fox knows it will be a tough game after the meeting between the sides earlier in the season.

He said, “We were disappointed with how the game went last week against County. I think the game was pretty evenly balanced at 0-0 when the referee sent Rory Boulding off, but there’s no doubt they were probably the better side in the first half. Despite not having played very well, for the first ten minutes of the second half we had a wee bit of pressure, won a few corners, but obviously the sending off’s had a massive impact on the game.

“All we can do is hold our hands up, look at our performance, analyse it and move on. We’ve got a big game at Firhill coming up tomorrow and we’ll need to try and put it right and get back on track with three points.”

Gary Bollan’s Lions defeated the Jags 2-1 in West Lothian earlier in the season thanks to a late Kyle Jacobs goal, but on that occasion it was a tight game that could have fallen for either side.

Fox added, “I think it was fair to say they were the better side when they came to us in September, but we nicked a late goal. I don’t think you’d get anyone in our camp that will disagree with that.

“It just shows though that sometimes you need a break. I’d take another one like that on Saturday, there’s no two ways about it. It’s good playing nice football, as we like to do, but sometimes you need to get big results when you’re not at your best.”

The Livi skipper has plenty of experiences of travelling to the Glasgow ground with the West Lothian side, and is hoping to add a positive entry to his growing collection of memories against Thistle.

He said, “One of my worst memories at Livi is probably the night we got beat on penalties in a Scottish Cup reply at Firhill a few years back.

“There was a massive incentive to play Rangers in the next round, and to dominate as we did that night and then lose was a sore one to take. But we’ve had some good performances there too, so hopefully we can produce another of those on Saturday.”

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 02/12/11

Livingston 0-3 Ross County report

2011-11-30T00:31:00.002Z

LIVINGSTON’s fine home record was blown apart by Ross County on Saturday, as the First Division league leaders battled to a deserved 3-0 victory in West Lothian to move nine clear at the top of the table.

Livi defender Paul Watson admitted the Lions were below par for much of the game, but insists the Livi side will pick themselves up before travelling through to face Partick Thistle in Glasgow next week.

In what was a tightly contested match in blustery conditions both sides reached the break goalless. However, Livi striker Rory Boulding was sent off after being adjudged to commit a dangerous tackle on County’s Paul Lawson just short of the hour mark, and County took advantage of the extra man with Michael Gardyne and a Colin McMenamin double seeing the points secured.

Watson said, “I thought the first half we were poor and didn’t really show up in the game very well, but we were still in it and it was 0-0 at half time.

“We started the second half reasonably well and we were on top. We didn’t control much of the game but at the start of the second half we started to do so a bit more, and got six or seven corners in a row, looked like we were going to score, and then the sending off’s killed it for us.”

He added, “I think Rory was unlucky, he won the ball and it was just unfortunate. After that, they’ve scored and from that point they’ve taken charge of the game. We were dominating the match right after going down to ten men and looked like we were going to score, but once they scored they gained confidence from it and started passing the ball about well.”

There was little goalmouth action in the first 45, with Grant Munro and Scott Boyd both coming close with headers for County, while Craig Barr did likewise at the other end.

Sandwiched in between that Boulding nearly created something after stumbling past two County defenders out wide, but his chipped cross was tipped over by Michael Fraser in the away goal.

After a first half where Derek Adams’s side held the majority of possession, Livi came out quicker in the second half and Bobby Barr saw his effort float over the bar, before Boulding was shown red by referee Mike Tumilty.

Despite going down to ten men Livi initially pilled on more pressure, forcing six corners in succession, but County soon raced up the pitch to take the lead. The Livi defence didn’t deal with a cross from the left and Gardyne blasted home.

The game was out of sight ten minutes later as ex-Lion Colin McMenamin turned home a Gardyne cross, and then within minutes the striker tucked the ball home after going one on one with Andy McNeil in the Lions’ goal.

County saw out the remainder of the match without difficulty and left Livi to face up to the challenge of Partick Thistle next Saturday – one Watson knows will be difficult.

He said, “Partick came here and dominated the game. They were very lucky and we got a bit of fortune with the great goal from Kyle and the end of that one. But we’ll go there having reorganised in training this week and worked hard to get a result.”

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 28/11/11

Livingston v Ross County preview

2011-11-26T08:00:00.001Z

LIVINGSTON manager Gary Bollan says the number of ex-Livingston players in top of the table Ross County’s side on Saturday doesn’t mean the game between the two is any different to any other league tie.

The Livi gaffer insists it will be business as usual at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium tomorrow, as the West Lothian outfit takes on a table topping County side with eight ex-Lions in their squad.

After a convincing 6-0 cup win at Irvine Meadow last week, the match gives Bollan’s men the opportunity to close the gap at the top of the table to just six points, and the former Livi and Dundee United full back says his side will be going out to win all three points.

He said, “It was a potentially difficult tie in Ayrshire last week, and to a lot of people if there was going to be an upset somewhere then it was going to be at our game. However, we went about our business very well and made sure that wasn’t going to happen.

“I don’t think anyone here at the club is under any illusions about the difficulty of the task facing us to get something from the match against County. We’ll be looking for three points obviously, given it’s a home game, but we’ll have to be at our very best to get them.”

He added, “It is quite an unusual situation that there are so many ex-Livingston players in the side we will face up to, but that doesn’t alter our approach to the game at all. We’ll approach it in the manner we think is right as we do every week and Saturday will be no different.”

Derek Adams’s County side come into the match on the back of seven straight league wins – ironically enough Livi being the last side to take anything of the Victoria Park men.

With an unbeaten home record stretching for over 17 months, Bollan is confident his side can match the visitors, despite acknowledging getting something from the game will be very tough.

Bollan said, “We’re going into the game with a good record, and Ross County coming here on the back of seven league wins on the bounce so their coming full of confidence. It will be a difficult game and there will be a match all over the park. But we’ll have done our homework and hopefully that will give us the three points.”

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 25/11/11

The Emergence of Bobby Barr

2011-11-25T21:57:00.001Z

WHEN Livingston’s Bobby Barr broke through the Falkirk back line, skipped past three static defenders and rifled a low shot into bottom corner of the away goal at the Falkirk Stadium three weeks ago, he did far more than simply haul Gary Bollan’s side back into a game that they were losing 3-0.

Probably more importantly for him and Livi this season, he finally realised his full potential that has been screaming to be let out over the past near two years; and eventually silenced critics who have never before fully appreciated his value to the current Livi side.

Signed in January 2010 after he was ditched by Albion Rovers following a run in with Albion manager Paul Martin, the former Third Division Player of the Year made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Stranraer. His substitute appearance was in few ways noticeable.

He made more and more appearances as Livi secured the Third Division title with room to spare, and went about establishing himself in the first team as the Lions moved up to Division Two.

Yet after playing part time football in Scotland’s lowest tier, it was hardly surprising that it took Barr longer in these games to begin to shine at a higher level.

His talent was apparent for all to see; unquestionable work rate and commitment, raw pace that few could match and an unerring desire to head for goal when in possession made him an ugly prospect for defenders. Many Livi fans found complaint in a lack of a final ball, and – for them – his all too frequent relinquishing of possession to the opposition.

He was in some minds dismissed as a Third Division player that would not ultimately make the step up. The criticism was harsh and unwarranted given his obvious ability, but fickle fans would not accept that the very nature of Barr’s game existed – and still exists – on taking chances and trying to pull off the unlikely.

Gary Bollan had faith, however. So too do other voices in the stands that could see he was a young man adapting to a bigger stage. And that faith was rewarded. In the second half of season 2010/11, Barr notched up four league goals and begin to feature regularly in the very best play Livi offered in matches. By the end of the campaign he had become an established and dangerous part of an exceptionally effective Lions attack.

The real challenge for all of the Livi players – not just Bobby Barr – was the step up to the First Division this campaign, to face full time opposition week in, week out. In games where Livi have held no great superiority, as in previous years, the opportunity to play passing football has been at times lessened. Barr showed flashes of brilliance in these early matches – quite possibly reducing the Morton right back to tears in our first away trip to Cappielow – but again those same voices had emerged as recently as this month that he wasn’t bringing enough to the side.

That all changed at the Falkirk Stadium.

To large portions of the Livi support he is quite apparently one of Livi’s more effective players, but it seemingly took his relentless performance of skill and determination against Steven Pressley’s side to shift his more stubborn detractors.

In that second 45 minutes he ran the show against a talented and in form full time opposition. There could be no excuses from critics as to how important Barr is to the threat carried by Gary Bollan’s men.

His superb individual goal was the catalyst that led to a fine team performance and comeback, and he was no less involved in the Lions’ impressive 1-0 win over Hamilton in our last league outing, wrecking havoc in the visiting defence to such an extent that Accies boss Billy Reid identified him as the main thorn in their side.

Last week’s visit to Irvine Meadow saw appreciation for his talents soar to a so far unreached level. Countless “I Love Bobby Barr” t-shirts, now official club merchandise, were on display as the Lions prevented a cup upset with some aplomb. The Daily Record went as far as to call him “the best wide player outside the SPL” in their own match report of the 6-0 success.

As Livi face up to league leaders Ross County tomorrow, we will get another indication of whether that is the case or not. But at least, in recent weeks, with the emergence of him as a new fans’ favourite, the very question of whether Bobby Barr should be on the pitch at all looks to have been finally laid to rest.

Irvine Meadow XI 0-6 Livingston report

2011-11-21T18:38:00.004Z

LIVINGSTON put paid to any hopes junior outfit Irvine Meadow XI had of reaching the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday, as the First Division side strolled to a 6-0 victory over the Super League Premier Division champions at Meadow Park.

A first half hat trick from striker Marc McNulty and a Rory Boulding effort had the Lions 4-0 at the break, before Kenny Deuchar and Bobby Barr added to the tally in the second half.

The Medda welcomed Livi after defeating Second Division Arbroath at the same venue two years ago – in doing so becoming the first junior outfit to defeat senior opposition in the cup – before they eventually went down 3-0 at Easter Road in the fourth round.

But on this occasion there was to be no repeat of those heroics as Gary Bollan’s side quickly went ahead. Less than five minutes were on the clock when McNulty worked space for himself at the edge of the box, before stroking the ball into the bottom corner past Michael Wardrope.

Meadow then created a glorious chance to equalise, but Richie Barr side footed the ball wide from only five yards out when it looked easier to score.

The home side was left to rue that miss, as Livi piled on the pressure. Deuchar was unlucky after his half volley went wide, before McNulty’s header from a Boulding cross bounced the wrong side of the post.

Bollan’s men eventually got their second in the 26th minute. McNulty latched on to a deft through ball and drilled low across Wardrope, before Bobby Barr had a great chance to add to Livi’s tally but he dragged his shot off target.

The young striker then completed his hat trick not long after with a carbon copy of his first effort, his low drive again evading the grasp of Wardrope. Boulding got his first and the Lions’ fourth within a minute when his twenty yard shot dipped under the home keeper and into the net.

The travelling support started the second half in carnival mood, and Livi got their fifth only six minutes after the break. Good work from Bobby Barr and sub Iain Russell set up Deuchar for a simple tap in.

The game remained comfortable for the First Division side, who were clearly enjoying passing the ball about on Meadow’s magnificent surface, and in stoppage time Bobby Barr notched the sixth with a low shot from twelve yards.

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 21/11/11

Irvine Meadow XI v Livingston preview

2011-11-18T12:45:00.005Z

LIVINGSTON face a tough Scottish Cup tie away to Junior Super League Premier Division side Irvine Meadow XI this weekend, and full back Jason Talbot is fully aware of the difficulties that await Gary Bollan’s men in Ayrshire.

The defender was part of the Livi squad that won both the Third and Second Division over the last two years, and after playing on his fair share of tight pitches in hostile atmospheres, he knows what the Lions will come up against on Saturday.

The West Lothian side go into the game on the back of a commanding performance and 1-0 victory over Hamilton Academical last week at home, and Talbot is confident the players can take their form into Saturday – as long as they win the battle early in the game.

He said, “Last week was a good win. It’s good for the boys to get a win; it’s good for myself to play a part in getting three points; and its good for the manager. I thought we played well, we passed it and the main thing is we battled through the ninety minutes to secure the points.”

“We know it’s going to be tough on Saturday. I think the pitch is quite tight, so first of all we’re going to have to win the battle. Only after about 20 minutes, if we win the battle, than we can get the ball down and play it. Hopefully we’ll then be able to get the ball down and pass on the deck the way we have been.”

There is no question of anyone at the club taking the match lightly, with Livi preparing to face the junior outfit as they would First Division opposition. Manager Gary Bollan has also had the Meadow Park side scouted twice since the third round draw was made.

Talbot reiterated that claim, and says the squad is fully aware they are facing up to a strong side. Meadow have lost only one league match since the season began – a 1-0 reverse against Pollock in their last outing.

He said, “We can’t take the tie any other way than as we normally would, to be honest. They are a good side, they’ve been in good form and I think they’ve only lost one match all season.

“We’ve just got to treat it like any league game. Hopefully that means we’ll be able to get the win and move into the next round of the cup.”

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 18/11/11

Livingston 1-0 Hamilton Academical report

2011-11-15T13:34:00.003Z

Bobby BARR picked up the man-of-the-match award as Livingston defeated Hamilton Academical 1-0 to leapfrog their opponents and go third in the Irn-Bru First Division.

Striker Mark McNulty bagged the winner after 52 minutes, and Barr hopes the Lions can keep up their good form after Gary Bollan’s men responded to last week’s dramatic 4-3 defeat at Falkirk.

He said: “I’m enjoying my football. I’m playing in a slightly different position in the middle of the park as part of a three in midfield. We’re playing well, and if we can keep winning we’ll do all right this season.

“After being 3-0 down at half time last week, we wanted to come out right from the start and not let a team get a few goals against us. I thought we were unlucky not to go in leading and I didn’t think Hamilton offered a lot. In the second half we continued to dominate, and while they’re going to have spells where they’re going to have chances, Andy McNeil’s not really had a save to make, whereas their keeper’s made three or four good saves.”

Livi dominated the first half and should have been ahead earlier, as Barr shot wide after beating two of his markers, while Kyle Jacobs and McNulty both had long-range efforts saved by David Hutton in the Accies goal.

The home side made the breakthrough just before the hour when McNulty stooped low to head a curling Rory Boulding cross into the bottom corner. Stefan Scougall and McNulty again both had later efforts blocked by Hutton, before sub James Chambers almost grabbed a late equaliser, but his shot was saved by McNeil.

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 14/11/11

Livingston v Hamilton preview

2011-11-11T23:55:00.000Z

LIVINGSTON striker Rory Boulding came on to take part in what he admits was a heartbreaking second half for the Lions at Falkirk last week, and the Englishman is confident the side can bounce back with a win when Hamilton Academical come calling tomorrow to the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium.

Livi had found themselves 3-0 down to Steven Pressley’s side at half time, but managed to wrestle the game back to 3-3 with ten minutes to go only for Falkirk to steal in and score a winner with 85 minutes on the clock.

Boulding insists all the Lions were under instructions to do was win the second half, but after one thing led to another the players were gutted to leave the Falkirk Stadium empty handed.

He reckons the side can take heart from the performance and quality of goals scored, and take that form into tomorrow, where Livi come up against Accies for the third time this season.

He said, “I came on last week after the gaffer had said at half time just to go out and win the half. That was all we aimed to do and it sort of snowballed from there.

“One thing lead to another and we scored three great goals – in fact they were all spectacular goals – and it was just unfortunate at the end that we conceded right at the death. It was heartbreaking really.”

“We started really brightly, the first ten or fifteen minutes we looked on top, and then after they scored their first goal I think they settled a bit. They looked frightened of us to start with, and they seemed to settle after the first goal and then we looked a bit frightened, and they capitalised with a couple more goals.”

Bollan’s players turn their attention to Hamilton tomorrow, with Boulding having featured – and scored – against the visitors already this season in a close 1-1 draw at New Douglas Park.

On that occasion Livi needed a stoppage time equaliser, but Boulding is confident the Lions have it in their locker to grab all three points from the side that sits one place above them in the league.

He said, “We’ve played them a couple of times already so we know exactly what we’re going to get with them. They are a big physical side, well trained, and dangerous at set pieces, but I think we’re a better footballing side. If we play to our strengths then hopefully we can get the better of them on Saturday. “

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 11/11/11

Falkirk 4-3 Livingston

2011-11-09T22:41:00.002Z

KEAGHAN Jacobs scored an early contender for goal of the season at Falkirk on Saturday, but the Livingston midfielder insists he was gutted like everyone else as Steven Pressley’s men stole a last minute winner after the Lions had fought back from 3-0 down.

Goals from Farid El Alagui, Murray Wallace and a Jonathan Brown own goal had given the Bairns the half time advantage, but Bobby Barr, Jacobs and then Mark Fotheringham dramatically pulled Livi level, only for David Weatherston to win it with five minutes to go.

Jacobs said, “Bobby Barr picked the ball up and I saw a break on. He’s played a great ball and once I got past the defender I was only ever going to shoot, and luckily for me it has dipped at the last minute and gone in.

“More importantly, the team dug really deep to come back to 3-3. We’re all devastated to lose the game in the end. We started well but after we lost the first goal we seemed to collapse as a team.”

Livi had the better of the first ten minutes, with Marc McNulty and then Jason Talbot both being foiled by Michael McGovern in the home goal. But only seconds after the full back was foiled, Falkirk snatched the lead.

A speculative lob was played over the top of the Livi defence, and with both Paul Watson and keeper Andy McNeil hesitating to clear Farid El Alagui clipped the ball into the bottom corner.

The misery was compounded for the Lions minutes later. A Falkirk corner wasn’t cleared, and the ball eventually fell to Murray Wallace. The youngster composed himself before drilling a low shot through a crowded six-yard box that Jonathan Brown could only help on its way.

The Livi defence was looking visibly shaken, and conceded a third goal to the Bairns before half time. David Weatherston’s cross was fluffed, but as McNeil looked set to pounce on the loose ball Brown slid in to turn the ball into his own net.

The game looked lost for the Lions at half time, and manager Gary Bollan brought on striker Rory Boulding for Brown to go three up front in a gamble to claw back the deficit.

Livi were given early hope that gamble might pay off when Bobby Barr picked up a loose ball before twisting and turning past three Falkirk defenders to slot home into the bottom corner. That galvanised the Livi team and support, and the travelling fans didn’t have to wait long before they were celebrating again.

After defending a corner Barr fed Jacobs, and he broke into the Falkirk half before cutting inside and unleashing a vicious 25-yard drive that flew into the net.

Livi dared to believe the comeback was on, and yellow shirts flew forward from all areas of the pitch in a bid to grab an equaliser. After Boulding saw his effort saved by McGovern the Lions drew level with ten minutes to go, as Mark Fotheringham’s free kick dipped under the keeper’s crossbar to stun the home crowd.

Paul Watson and Kenny Deuchar both came close to adding an at one point unthinkable winner for the visitors, but with five minutes left on the clock Steven Pressley’s side snatched a winner, as Weatherston broke into space before firing low under McNeil.

The game furiously raced to a breathless conclusion as the Lions almost equalised again in stoppage time, but a magnificent last gasp tackle from Rhys Bennett denied Boulding when through on goal.

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 07/11/11

Falkirk v Livingston preview

2011-11-05T11:27:00.001Z

LIVINGSTON head to Falkirk tomorrow with the chance to leapfrog Steven Pressley’s side and take second spot in the First Division, and striker Marc McNulty says the players are looking forward to the challenge of attempting to be the first team to take three points away from the Bairns’ home this season.

The young forward was on the scoresheet as Livi broke their 11-year hoodoo at Queen of the South last Saturday in a hard fought 2-0 victory in horrendous weather conditions, and McNulty insists Gary Bollan’s squad know it will be tough to repeat the feat tomorrow.

Falkirk have only once dropped points in five matches this season at the Falkirk Stadium – that being a 1-1 draw with top of the table Ross County – and on three separate occasions have secured home points with goals in the last five minutes.

He said: “I look forward to every game that I play, but obviously there’s a lot more at stake this week because if we win this week we go up to second, and all the boys are looking forward to it knowing we can maybe take second place.”

“Saturday’s going to be very tough; that’s us played everyone now and every game in this league’s tough. Especially after just going away to Queen of the South and picking up a victory there hopefully we can carry that into this week.”

The striker admits the Livi squad were not aware before kick-off last Saturday that it was over 11 years since a Lions team defeated Queens on their own patch, but the players were happy to hear they had managed to break that poor run.

“We didn’t know until after the game that we hadn’t won there for 11 years, and it’s nice to know we’ve went down there and done that. It’s a difficult place to go, but all the boys fought hard and I thought deserved the win.”

McNulty’s sixth-minute strike got the Lions off to a perfect start against Gus MacPherson’s men, as he skipped past two defenders before sending a low shot into the bottom corner. He hopes the goal – his second league effort of the campaign – will help push him on to more success as the season goes on.

He added: “Yeah, I was delighted to score, that’s what I aim to do in a game.

“I look to play well and obviously it’s important the team win, but it’s great being a striker and scoring goals, and hopefully that sets me up well for the rest of the season.”

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 04/11/11

One more thing . . .

2011-11-02T21:04:00.011Z

My final contribution as news editor to The Student news section.
----------
LIBRARY CHAOS

AN EDINBURGH University Students’ Association (EUSA) spokesperson has said they will seek to defend one of their members after a student was thrown out of the University of Edinburgh main library last week.

A first year zoology undergraduate was reportedly asked to leave the building by security staff after a series of incidents had caused complaints from fellow students and library staff.

One observer described the student’s behaviour as “a fucking disgrace,” and then apologised for his language before pleading that his comments were merely a fair reflection of his opinion.

According to bystanders who spoke to The Student, those who know him referred to the individual in question as ‘Mufasa.’

His appearance first caused concern when hurdling the barriers at the main entrance. Eye witnesses said security staff initially made to follow the student, but a girl left the library café without a lid on her coffee at that precise moment and attention immediately turned to that serious security breach.

‘Mufasa’ apparently made for the stairs, while separate reports have indicated that the girl was released after being detained for five hours of questioning.

Staff were further alerted to ‘Mufasa’s’ behaviour after he was soon discovered on the third floor shredding books with his teeth. It is thought two fellow students moved to placate the now visibly animated student, who was heard to remark that the circle of life was a bollocks idea invented by some jumped up monkey who couldn’t tell his arse from his elbow.

One student, who asked not to be named, told The Student that they found ‘Mufasa’s’ appearance particularly concerning. She said, “He had a really grisly look about him and a wild mane of hair. It was really rather disconcerting. I want to know what the university intends to do about it. Oh, and while you’re at it, I’d encourage your readers to come and show solidarity this weekend at our lat-"

The following sentence was simply too boring to be repeated by The Student. We cut off the individual concerned to prevent further distress to our readers.

Staff eventually persuaded the rogue student to depart the library after use of a tranqilliser gun, thought to belong to security staff for dealing with students who attempt to eat food on the second floor.

EUSA have claimed the use of such a weapon was against the code of conduct university staff are required to follow in dealing with students and have said they will seek to make the university guarantee such an incident will not occur again, but that the university will probably not listen to them and introduce £9000 fees anyway.

Another student claimed ‘Mufasa’ had become notorious across campus in recent days. He told The Student, “People have been talking about him, no question. My friend even claimed he had adulterated a pint with mayonnaise in the Library Bar a couple of days back – I mean how inappropriate can you get?”

Friends have told The Student that ‘Mufasa’ intends to return to his home in the plains of Africa while a decision on his future is impending from the university.

The University of Edinburgh was contacted by The Student for comment two weeks before the event actually occurred, but had not responded at the time of going to press.

Calum Leslie stepped down this week as The Student news editor. He is no longer to be taken seriously. By anyone.

First published in The Student on 01/11/11
-----
I'll miss the laughs.

Queen of the South 0-2 Livingston

2011-11-02T19:54:00.006Z

LIVINGSTON boss Gary Bollan was delighted to see his team finally pick up three points on the road against Queen of the South, and end the run of draws to move up to third place in the First Division.

In horrendous conditions at Palmerston Park, Livi took an early lead through Marc McNulty and then saw the points safe thanks to Mark Fotheringham’s second-half goal, and, sandwiched in between the two efforts, Andy McNeil kept out a Kevin Smith penalty for the Lions.

Bollan said: “It was about time we managed to get a result like this away from home. It was thoroughly deserved but it was played in atrocious conditions.

“We had the advantage of the wind in the first half but Queens defended well. In the end it took a fine penalty kick save from our keeper to keep us ahead before we got a second to make sure of the three points.”

The game started in driving rain and strong wind, but McNulty wasted little time in giving the visitors the lead. He skipped past two Queens defenders before drilling the ball low into the net via Lee Robinson’s right-hand post.

The Lions nearly made it two when Bobby Barr broke away down the right, but his snapshot was dragged across the six-yard box and out for a goal kick.

That was the end of the brief first-half action, but Livi were comfortable in holding Gus MacPherson’s side at arms length, and built upon their dominance in the second period.

Barr twice found space out wide, and on both occasions sent low drilled crosses into the box, where Kenny Deuchar and then Keaghan Jacobs couldn’t quite connect to double the lead.

McNulty then saw his shot brilliantly saved by Robinson, before Bobby Barr felled Kevin Smith at the other end to gift Queens the chance to equalise. Smith himself took the penalty, but McNeil saved with his legs.

Within minutes, Livi found themselves two ahead. McNulty and Keaghan Jacobs combined to allow the former to square for Deuchar. That ball was pushed away in a goalmouth stramash, but Fotheringham blasted home from seven yards to get his first goal for the club.

A McLaughlin angled effort brilliantly tipped away by McNeil threatened to pull Queens back into the game, but Livi saw the match out on top, with McNulty unlucky to see his fierce shot from the edge of the box whistle wide.

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 31/10/11

Livingston 1-1 Greenock Morton

2011-10-25T16:27:00.011+01:00

CRAIG BARR has plenty of experience of playing in the First Division and SPL with Queen of the South and Gretna, and the Livingston defender insists Gary Bollan’s side could be sitting higher up the First Division table if they took their chances.

After drawing 1-1 at home to Greenock Morton on Saturday in what was the newly promoted team’s seventh draw in ten league games, the centre back says cutting out the odd defensive mistake and showing a sharper edge up front is necessary for the Lions.

“It’s a little bit frustrating, we’ve had so many draws week after week and we’ve got to start looking to turn them into three points. On Saturday we maybe didn’t deserve the three points as much as we have done previous weeks, but we certainly had the chances to take them.

“We’ve got to cut out the mistakes we’re making defensively. The Morton goal is really frustrating, but if you’re going up to a better league you’re going to get punished like we maybe weren’t last season, and we’re drawing games that last season we’d have easily been winning.

“It would be worse if we weren’t creating the chances. Obviously to create the chances and miss isn’t ideal, but at least we’re getting in the right areas.

“It’s not so much that we maybe deserved the three points, but after a combination of the last few weeks we feel like we could be higher up in the table.”

Morton were by far the better team in the opening stages, but it was Livi who had the first chance as a Mark Fotheringham free-kick was nodded wide by Barr.

The visitors responded by taking the lead. Fouad Bachirou fed David O’Brien, and he crashed the ball in off the crossbar from the edge of the box to give his side a deserved advantage.

Morton keeper Matt McGinley repelled a couple of Fotheringham free-kicks before the home side carved open the Morton defence to equalise. Iain Russell and Stefan Scougall combined to send Marc McNulty through one-on-one with McGinley and he was floored by a sprawling challenge from the keeper.

Russell stepped up to force the penalty into the bottom corner via the keeper’s gloves against his former side.

The goal seemed to spark life into a so far lethargic Livi team, and the increased pace with which they moved the ball across the pitch led to them more frequently penetrating the Morton back line. That momentum was scuppered by the half-time break, however, and Morton had the chances early in the second half. Andy McNeil pulled off a stunning block from O’Brien, while Paul Di Giacomo and Kevin McCann both found only the stand when presented with chances to retake the lead.

As the game raced to its conclusion, the Lions rediscovered their attacking impetus, with Keaghan Jacobs and Russell teeing up McNulty eight yards out – but despite beating McGinley, Stewart McCaffrey got back to scoop the ball off the line. Jacobs then his effort from 20 yards clip the post and go wide, before Bobby Barr did brilliantly to work space in the box, but squared the ball rather than taking on a shot.

In stoppage time, McNeil stopped the visitors from snatching the victory. From a corner he found the ball spiralling towards his own goal off a Livi defender’s head, but managed to somehow claw the ball round the post and secure a point for Gary Bollan’s men.

First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 24/10/11

Livingston v Greenock Morton preview

2011-10-21T22:19:00.005+01:00

"Livingston's home record can help propel the side towards the top end of the table, according to left back Jason Talbot . . ."

Livi v Morton preview

Talbot in action recently against Raith Rovers

Robert Speirs

Ayr United 0-0 Livingston

2011-10-17T17:45:00.002+01:00

"LIVINGSTON boss Gary Bollan was left to rue missed chances at Somerset Park, as his Livingston team could only fight to a 0-0 draw against Brian Reid’s Ayr United on Saturday . . . "
Ayr 0-0 Livi report

Ayr United v Livingston preview

2011-10-14T16:36:00.001+01:00

"LIVINGSTON DEFENDER Ross Docherty was handed an unlikely league debut against Partick Thistle three weeks ago, and the young full back is keen to take encouragement from fellow youth players who have made the step up to Gary Bollan’s first team squad . . ."
Ayr Utd v Livi preview

Should he stay or should he go?

2011-10-12T00:48:00.009+01:00

So that's it.

The fat lady has sung, they think it's all over, and it is. Scotland will - once again - not be gracing the finals of an international championship after a 3-1 defeat in Alicante to both World and European champions Spain ended their hopes of reaching Poland and Ukraine 2012.

Calls for the removal of the manager Craig Levein have swiftly followed the seventh successive unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the national side, his first in charge. And on paper, there is plenty evidence to support such a view.

Only three wins in eight matches and none by more than one goal (two of those against minnows Liechtenstein), a disastrous 4-6-0 formation in Prague two years ago that Levein still refuses to admit was a mistake and a collective one point from four games against the Czech Republic and Spain all point towards a campaign that was an unmitigated disaster.

Indeed, George Burley was booted after one failed effort; so why should the former Hearts, Dundee United and Leicester City manager escape similar punishment? What do we possess as a side now that we didn't when in a similar situation two years ago?

Some critics, whether they be journalists or supporters, or both, would have you believing not very much. But that conclusion is as dodgy as taking to the pitch without a recognised striker.

For a start, Levein evidently commands a respect that Burley never seemed to hold. It is only possible to know so much from the terraces, but the fact both Darren Fletcher and Kenny Miller both recently pulled out only to return to the squad when there existed half a chance of being fit to play speaks volumes. Perhaps the characters in question are more central to that outcome than the gaffer, but it is a long way from the days of multiple call offs, player rebellions and international retirements that plagued Burley's reign.

By and large the Scotland players seem to want to be part of Levein's plans, and from the accounts of the media who spend the most time with the squad they respect him and enjoy playing for him; arguably the key to international management where no prospect of a transfer window exists. Steven Fletcher admittedly remains a blot on that particular report card, and is a situation the Scotland boss may need to revisit before our World Cup 2014 Qualifying campaign gets underway in a little under a year if he is to succeed.

Secondly, the squad is moving forward, compared to undoubtedly backwards under Burley. The myth that international managers need to hit the ground running whether new to the arena or not, and that Levein's failure to do so is testament to his inability to do the job, needs debunked.

Walter Smith was hailed for his instant impact as Scotland boss - but what appears forgotten in the passing of time and under the pressure of convenience is that he had the majority of a failed World Cup qualifying campaign to shape his squad, learn the players and implement changes to a side that had become ragged, downtrodden and disorganised.

The 2006 World Cup Qualifying campaign started with draws at home to Slovenia and away to Moldova, as well as defeat to Norway at Hampden. The results ended in the removal of Berti Vogts as national team boss and the appointment of Smith. In the seven games that followed, Smith presided over three wins, two draws and two defeats - the same number of points amassed by Levein in his eight competitive matches in charge.

Admittedly, some matches featured arguably tougher opposition, but included a 1-0 defeat at home to Belarus and a disappointing 0-0 draw in Minsk. Over these games, Smith made mistakes, learned from them and built up a side ready to challenge for qualification in the next campaign, that would see Scotland run France and Italy within two points of a place at Euro 2008.

That his reign marked the beginning of what most fans would call our last successful spell and that he enjoyed such a bedding in period cannot be coincidence. Levein has made more glaring mistakes than Smith, and has probably suffered poorer results - but just like in the former Rangers manager's first competitive experience as the national boss, results and performances have begun to be drawn together as the set of matches reached it's conclusion.

Indeed, in the last year Levein's side has begun to play, in flashes during games, with a passing verve and creativity that seems somehow unbefitting of a Scotland side.

He has, like Smith, faced the task of putting together a team from the remnants of a damaging previous reign, and only now, like Smith, are the rewards beginning to materialise towards the end of another fruitless effort to make it to the big stage.

In contrast, Burley was presented with a side that was still warm from blazing an unbeaten trail from Hampden to Paris and back, that was primed and relatively experienced at international level with a moderately easy qualification group, and presided over a regression of mammoth proportions that resulted in the fragile mess Levein was handed on his first day in the job.

The starting point for Burley and Levein could not have been more different, and the direction being travelled in more contrasting.

It is not credible for a minute to suggest Levein has not exposed glaring failures of his own over the past two years. His stoic defence of the 4-6-0 formation remains a monkey on his back, and will continue to do so until he admits he simply got it wrong. Likewise, the tentative way in which he approached our opening qualifier - an away tie in Lithuania - perhaps epitomised both his novice uncertainty at that level as well as our immediate insecurities as a footballing nation, but must now be looked back on as an error of judgement.

He also must develop an alternative to the favoured 4-1-4-1 formation for occasions where variety is necessary and has not done so far; the match against Liechtenstein at Hampden was a dreadful performance played for the most part in a 4-4-2, and exposed his side's lack of ability to mix it up.

Yet there are positives to outweigh these realities. There is as genuine feel good factor amongst a squad desperate to play and the players are beginning to feel comfortable with his style. While an alternative is needed, the 4-1-4-1 formation that sees a lone striker twinned on either side by attacking wingers and stabilised by a solid central midfield trio, simply put, is beginning to mould a Scotland side with the potential to play good passing football.

Even in the heat of Alicante last night, against the might of Spain, the Scottish side showed the ability to patiently open up their opponents and pose more attacking problems than a simple punt up the pitch.

Levein now has a side that he has cultivated over a campaign, and that is ready - if it ever will be under this former Scotland international - to seriously challenge for qualifying. There can be no mistake about it: if it follows a similar path as our attempt to get to Poland and Ukraine, our 2014 World Cup qualification effort will be Levein's last as Scotland manager and most probably will be curtailed.

But the man has done the hard work that Smith put in in matches against Norway, Slovenia, Italy, Moldova and Belarus in World Cup 2006 qualifying, and deserves the chance to see that hard work bear fruits as Smith (and McLeish) got, and did in the Euro 2008 campaign.

It is because of this he differs from George Burley - the architect of that one true failure of a campaign - and is why he will in all probability rightfully lead the national team into matches against Serbia, Croatia, Belgium, Macedonia and Wales and hopefully on to Brazil. If he cannot learn from his mistakes, and cannot lead his side to realise the potential beginning to sprout from all corners of his squad, however, his removal as boss will merely be delayed by a few more glorious failures.

Livingston 1-1 Raith Rovers report

2011-10-03T23:14:00.001+01:00

SUPERB SUB Livi striker Marc McNulty was delighted to open his league account for the season on Saturday, but was left disappointed that the Lions couldn't overcome plucky ten-man Raith Rovers to get all three points. . .
Livi 1-1 Raith report

McNulty grabs a cup goal against Arbroath in August
Robert Speirs

Livingston v Raith Rovers preview

2011-09-29T18:43:00.002+01:00

LIVINGSTON defender Paul Watson reckons the Lions' strong team spirit has been a major factor in their good start to the season, and he's keen to get back into the side for the visit of Raith Rovers tomorrow after missing last weekend's win over Partick Thistle through suspension. . .
Livi v Raith preview

Livi's Paul Watson
Robert Speirs

Livingston v Partick Thistle report

2011-09-27T10:45:00.000+01:00

"LIVINGSTON goalkeeper Andy McNeil was delighted to see some of the more inexperienced members of the Livi squad step up to the mark on Saturday, as the Lions defied a persistent Partick Thistle side to snatch a stoppage time winner at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium . . ."

Livi v Partick Thistle report

Livingston v Partick Thistle preview

2011-09-23T09:25:00.002+01:00

"STEFAN SCOUGALL never thought he'd be a first-team regular for Livingston this season, let alone picking up man-of-the-match awards - but the young midfielder has relished being thrown into the thick of this season's First Division campaign . . ."

Livi v Partick Thistle preview

Ross County v Livingston report

2011-09-21T10:55:00.004+01:00

"Livingston battled to a hard-fought point with Ross County at Victoria Park on Saturday, with the match signalling the second game in a row where the Lions have shared the spoils after going a goal up..."

Ross County v Livi report

Ross County v Livingston - preview

2011-09-16T17:08:00.001+01:00

"LIVINGSTON STRIKER Iain Russell says the team is frustrated at not having made more of its numerical advantage after seeing six opposition players sent off in only five games..."
Ross County v Livi preview

Iain Russell on opening day against Queen of the South

Robert Speirs

Hamilton Academical v Livingston preview

2011-08-26T11:23:00.005+01:00

"LIVINGSTON MANAGER Gary Bollan has urged his players to rise again to the challenge of facing down one of the First Division's promotion favourites tomorrow - and put the midweek League Cup disappointment at SPL St Johnstone behind them..."
Hamilton v Livi preview

Gary Bollan with the Second Division trophy

Robert Speirs

Livingston v Dundee report

2011-08-22T18:37:00.002+01:00

"LIVINGSTON SECURED their first league win of the season in spectacular fashion against Dundee on Saturday, and striker Kenny Deuchar is revelling in being back in the competitive environment that is the First Division..."
Livi v Dundee report

Kenny Deuchar has five goals this season in all competitions.

Robert Speirs.

Livingston v Dundee preview

2011-08-19T20:54:00.004+01:00

"LIVINGSTON CAPTAIN Liam Fox insists the mood at the club couldn't be better heading into this weekend's clash with Dundee - despite the side only picking up one point from the opening two league games..."
Livi v Dundee preview

Captain Liam Fox on opening day.
Robert Spiers

Greenock Morton 2-1 Livi report

2011-08-15T15:13:00.004+01:00

"LIVINGSTON MANAGER Gary Bollan couldn't believe his side came away from Morton on Saturday without any points - and reckons the second-half performance at Cappielow was one of the best in his two years in charge at the club..."
Morton 2-1 Livi report

Livi boss Gary Bollan.

Stuart Vance

Greenock Morton v Livingston preview

2011-08-12T13:58:00.005+01:00

"DAVID SINCLAIR was delighted to pick up his first league goal of the season for Livingston in Saturday's league opener against Queen of the South - and he wants to add more goals to his game as the Lions resume First Division action at Morton tomorrow..."
Greenock Morton v Livi preview

Sinclair celebrates his goal against Queens.
Robert Speirs

Livingston v Stirling Albion report

2011-08-10T13:35:00.001+01:00

"LIVINGSTON set themselves up for their first away league trip of the season at Morton on Saturday by crushing visitors Stirling Albion 5-0 in the Ramsdens Cup second round last night, extending their unbeaten home run to 29 matches..."

Livi v Stirling report

Livingston v Queen of the South report

2011-08-08T13:28:00.001+01:00

"LIVINGSTON mounted a second half comeback on opening day in the First Division on Saturday to prevent Queen of the South from putting a dampener on their return to Scottish football's second tier..."

Livi v Queens report

Livingston v Queen of the South preview

2011-08-05T16:21:00.008+01:00

"Andy McNEIL faced the disappointment of being released by Raith Rovers after the Kirkcaldy club cut costs - but he's delighted to be back in the First Division with Livingston..."
Livi v Queens preview

Livingston v Arbroath report

2011-07-31T16:27:00.001+01:00

"Rory BOULDING wasted no time in getting his Livingston goal-scoring career under way on Saturday against Arbroath - and then insisted it's a case of taking it one game at a time this season for the West Lothian club..."

Livingston 6-0 Arbroath

Livingston v Arbroath preview

2011-07-29T18:36:00.002+01:00

Preview of Saturday's Scottish Communities League Cup tie against Arbroath, with Bobby Barr. Read it here.

Airdrie United v Livingston preview

2011-07-22T17:04:00.001+01:00

Spoke to Livingston's Cammy MacDonald for the Evening News in the build up to Airdrie United v Livingston. You can read the preview here.

Terrace Podcast post: Livingston season review 2010/11

2011-06-02T22:04:00.003+01:00

My review of Livingston's season - hosted by The Terrace Scottish Football Podcast - is here.

Surely it's time for summer football?

2011-05-11T18:01:00.004+01:00

Today, the Raith Rovers chairman announced manager of the year John McGlynn will face severe cuts to his player budget as a result of the current climate in Scottish football.

As he points out, his club are certainly not going to be the last. Fellow First Division outfits like Queen of the South have prepared their following for similar, while newly promoted Livingston has already announced the departure of several first team players as they attempt to move away from reliance on the financial support of the club's directors. Falkirk's budget, while remaining large, say their board, will also be reduced. More will surely follow.

It is the latest indicator that Scottish football is struggling badly. Many people have many theories as to how the game revives it's fortunes: part time football is the way forward for many, SPL 2 the saviour for others. Yet this season should have witnessed the elevation of one particular suggestion. It was in December this year, when just about the entire Scottish Football League card had been postponed for the third week running along with the majority of SPL games, that the argument for summer football should have come of age.

Granted, the last two winters have been extreme in terms of the weather we've been lumped with. But this is Scotland, and it's always cold and wet in December; which means we'll always be battling frozen pitches and waterlogged goalmouths. Snow, in fact, felt in some ways like light relief. Until it melted. Then we had more cold and wet.

Scottish football tried to battle on. And failed miserably. Again.

As call off after call off cost clubs thousands in income from gate receipts, SPL clubs lost out on Sky and ESPN TV money, and a number of sides battled even to keep paying their players. Fortunes have been spent on trying to protect pitches from the winter conditions, with money shelled out - when games are on - to keep floodlights and electricity running in the dark, depths of winter.

Some might laugh at the triviality of having to think about the cost of lighting the pitch, not a problem for Scotland's bigger teams - but I'd bet most SFL boardrooms cursed the cost at some point in the last ten months, and for years before that.

And as we come to the end of the season, faced with months of warmer, drier weather and lighter nights, almost inexplicably we're packing up.

On the majority of sunny summer Saturday afternoons, not a single competitive match will be played on lush, green pitches across Scotland; then it will get cold, wet and dark again, and we'll all trudge into the gloom to attempt to watch football on a lightly plowed field.

Maybe a selective image if ever there was one, but it tells a story. Admittedly, it will not always be that warm. It will not always be dry. But it will be warmer and drier than from December to February, and it will always be light. Pitches might need occasionally drained or forked: they won't need covers and undersoil heating. Paying supporters quite frankly are more likely to turn out in even mild July conditions than on sub-zero December evenings; especially the families with younger children who are the supporters of the future.

Equally, Sky, ESPN and other broadcasters are desperate for live football in the summer months; so much so they've started funding friendly tournaments in Europe. While the SPL cannot match the English Premier League in the attention it deservedly grabs, it still makes a good fist of getting games broadcast at the weekend during the season. In the summer, with nothing else on, that cause can only be enhanced.

Summer football is absolutely not a silver bullet. There are problems with major championships, coherence with other domestic leagues, and, to be blunt, people like to go on holiday in the summer, too. Further, as one of my own Twitter followers pointed out recently, any revival in Scottish football's fortunes requires a broad strategy that looks at the pricing, marketing and quality of the product alongside simply when we play.

But summer football can be the starting point for that change. It can be the radical shift needed to haul Scottish football out of the doldrums it has inhabited for approaching a decade. It can provide increased revenue streams for clubs in a number of ways - the likes of which I have only touched on above. In particular, the benefit for lower league clubs could be even greater than to those at the top of the tree.

Any change will have to overcome the entrenched traditionalism that infects the Scottish game, but done right, in a considered and strategically coherent fashion, a move to summer football has the potential to breathe life into our flagging domestic and national game.

And when we're faced with the sort of announcements we've seen today from the man in charge of one of Scotland's biggest and most influential SFL clubs, the argument for not doing so cannot continue to win the debate.

We can do what by ourselves? Leaf' it out...

2011-04-28T18:27:00.018+01:00

Election leaflet time is always a rather comical couple of weeks if you can allow yourself to properly look beyond the five main parties running for Holyrood. The SNP, Labour, Lib Dems, Conservatives and Greens all aim to make their efforts on track, on message and fairly friendly and safe. They can fail in some of these areas, but rarely do the leaflets include anything worth writing about other than, if you're in a particularly nippy mood, spelling mistakes.

The same cannot be said for the fringe parties. Two standouts from this campaign to have come my way are those from The Liberal Party and The Scottish National Front. The former promises to legalise all drugs, give grants to every student over 16, and prevent criminalisation of internet downloaders - no, a first year undergrad isn't responsible for the pledges - and the latter, from the NF, calls for an immediate halt to all immigration, a process of "humane" repatriation and reintroducing capital punishment for terrorism.

Now, I could spend hundreds - hell, thousands - of words explaining just why so much of the above is so detached from reality; how you argue the merits of heroin for sale at the off-license or go about deporting every immigrant from a country that has it's entire history based on, yeah, you guessed it: immigrants, are just two of the questions I'd have to ask.

But what is also interesting, if not more so than the bizarreness of the politics, is that these parties seem to have forgotten they are standing for the Scottish parliament when producing these leaflets.

The Liberal Party talk about the UK banking system, foreign policy and EU membership, while the Scottish National Front are focussed solely on immigration - all policy areas over which Holyrood has no control. Where the NF candidate says "If elected, the NF would..." what he really means to say - or rather needs to - is "If we were standing for Westminster, the NF would..." But he doesn't. The leaflet gives the impression Holyrood can do these things - as does The Liberal Party's effort.

Either these candidates know this, but include the material because they think it sounds good and will appeal to a general strand of public opinion that will overlook the technicalities of whether any of this can be done - a Westminster protest vote of sorts (you know, the same appalling idea Ed Miliband tried again today to adopt on different grounds) - or they themselves are ignorant of the powers Holyrood holds. I wouldn't like to presume which is which.

Livi v Brechin City

2011-04-05T19:44:00.000+01:00

Match report - Livingston 0-0 Brechin City

Livi v Peterhead

2011-04-04T17:55:00.000+01:00

Match report - Livingston 5-1 Peterhead

Livington FC - Back from the brink

2011-03-14T20:05:00.000Z

The Terrace Podcast have kindly hosted my blog post on Livingston FC's climb back from the brink of Scottish football. Have a read - http://theterraceradio.podbean.com/2011/03/12/back-from-the-brink/#respond

Livi v Alloa

2011-02-28T17:00:00.002Z

Match report - Livingston 3-0 Alloa Athletic

Livi v Stenhousemuir

2011-02-21T17:00:00.001Z

Match report - Livingston 2-1 Stenhousemuir

Livi v Airdrie

2011-02-17T17:00:00.001Z

Match report - Livingston 2-0 Airdrie United

Livi v Brechin City

2011-02-03T17:00:00.001Z

Match report - Livingston 2-0 Brechin City

Livi v East Fife

2011-01-31T17:00:00.001Z

Match report - Livingston 4-3 East Fife

Seventh heaven

2010-09-10T15:15:00.001+01:00

Phew.

They say following Scotland isn't easy, and most of the time I'm prepared to disagree. Usually, you have a few drinks, have a good sing song, and sit back and see what happens. It really couldn't be much easier.

Scrap that. Scrap that when a game is tumbling into stoppage time at Hampden Park and the best 11 football players Scotland can produce have, so far, failed to hold the lead at any point against Liechtenstein.

That's a country with an entire population smaller than the crowd watching the game. The size of Falkirk. The fourth smallest country in Europe behind Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.

That's not easy at all.

Not to watch Scotland struggle on our own patch like that. Sure, we've drawn with the Faroe Islands before - but never in Glasgow. Never at Hampden. Never at home.

Never in the same arena where France and the Netherlands have been felled, where we held Germany and Italy, where we thrashed the Ukraine.

A defeat and we'd been as well chucking it. A draw was better - just - but pretty much meant we'd kiss goodbye, once again, to the prospect of qualification.

Enter Stephen McManus.

It's strange; every logical thought in your mind was telling you that a winner was not to be celebrated in these circumstances. It was worthy of polite applause at very, very best.

But when, in the seventh minute of stoppage time, the big central defender bulleted a header into the bottom corner . . .

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/8978554.stm

Funny things, football does to you.

A return to the fray

2010-09-06T15:35:00.009+01:00

The new university year begins next week, so I thought I better dust down the cobwebs that have been forming on this particular URL over the past six months.

It's not so much that I don't enjoy writing this - on the contrary, the false sense of self-importance you can get is practically addictive - but when exams are bearing down upon you and your football team are marching towards promotion, life seems to hold time for little else.

And during the summer - well, don't be daft . . .

Nonetheless, time to get back into the habit - I've got a journalism career to chip away at here and no time to lose; I'll be hacking mobile phones before you can say 'senior political resignation at Number 10' - or, I dunno, something like that.

Indeed, as a bit of an aside, this new government's been in place at Westminster for some time now, and funnily enough, we still don't really know just how painful it's going to be when these economic 'tough choices' that David Cameron spent hours going on about are made. It seems the toughest choice of all is whether to actually tell us - the electorate - about the option that's been picked.

In fact, every time I see the PM he's got the look of a man who's sold the family car to pay for a motorbike and hasn't yet had the heart to tell the missus - the only problem for us being if we don't much like it, any 'divorce' is a good four years away at least.

And Tony Blair's back. With his new book. Hoorah. The most relevant line of the lot, for me, is when he decides to let us know he often thought of President Bush: "Don't just say it George; explain it" - and there was me thinking you couldn't sum up an entire eight year presidency in seven words.

One quick mention of the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe which was, as always, superb. Kevin Bridges and Chris Addison's could not have been more different from one another - a lengthy conversation between the two would be stand-up gold - but both were very, very funny. See them if you ever get the chance.

No doubt something will grab my overly-analytical mind very soon, but until then check out this guy. He's quite good too . . .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/clips/p009lq81/edinburgh_2010_the_boy_with_tape_on_his_face/

. . . in fact, stick him into my Bridges-Addison get-together and we really could be onto something.

Chicken karma

2009-10-06T18:00:00.015+01:00

There's nothing quite like being reminded of primary school morals. You know the ones . . .

What goes around, comes around; it'll come back to haunt you; you'll get your comeuppance.

Take your pick of which words you want to use, but the sentiment is always the same. Don't be mean, or the world will be mean back to you.

If you steal Harry's sweets, Jimmy will kick you at football at break. And remember, son - tarmac doesn't taste good.

These are the sort of morals teachers try to get us to live by when we're ten.

In all probability, their main aim is to make their own day a bit easier. But maybe, just maybe, we'd do a bit better to follow their advice.

Today, for example, I tried to avoid two people, who I knew, walking towards me up Fleshmarket Close in Edinburgh.

Now, as any of you that frequent Fleshmarket Close are no doubt aware, there's really nowhere to physically go to avoid someone.

It's a little crack of a space between two tenements, falling down to Waverly Station and the Edinburgh dungeon, from the much higher Cockburn Street.

In short, two small elephants would have more chance avoiding each other whilst walking down a train carriage.

Short of turning on the spot and running back up the steps - and that might have been slightly obvious - there isn't really anywhere you can go (as an aside, you may have gathered that I don't much like the two people in question).

So anyway, there I was. No ideas. No I-Pod earphones to use. No hope of avoiding people and a conversation that I knew would be a waste of five minutes of my life.

And then it struck me.

Or, rather, it came into my view.

A chippy - crammed into the dark little lane - fully equipped with window menu. It was the answer.

I could be thoughtfully inquiring about the price of a smoked sausage supper: they would wander by.

Beautiful.

Or - and be honest, you knew this was coming - so I thought.

What I didn't notice was that the menu was level with the bottom step of the second section on stairs you walk down.

A particularly uneven step, at that.

And so, as I turned with more intent than I ever have before to view a carry-out menu, reveling in the glory of my quickly hashed together plan and already basking in the golden light of its success, I tripped.

Not just a stumble. A proper losing-your-balance-along-with-a-look-of-utter-confusion-and-shock-on-your-face sort of trip.

Just as the significant four feet came into my now drastically lowered eye line.

There was nothing for it, I'd just have to make conversation now.

I looked up with an embarrassed smile, ready to laugh it out with a few fake friends.

Only to realise I didn't recognise the two distinctively disgusted expressions now looking down upon me, in more ways than one.

The resemblance was mild at best.

It wasn't my old 'friends' - just two strangers, whom I have no reason to dislike or otherwise.

Complete strangers - who had just been confronted by a stumbling 19 year-old ejit looking up at them with a grin pacman would have been proud of.

Great.

The irony of looking like an absolute turkey while pretending to observe chicken was not lost on me.

Neither was the realisation that had I not tried to be a bit of a tosser and deliberately ignore people, I probably wouldn't have fallen.

Chastened, and shriveled up into a sun-dried tomato of my former self, I headed for my train. . .

The lesson?

Listen to your primary school teachers, folks.

They know what they're on about.

'Smeato' stuck for words

2009-09-30T14:43:00.008+01:00

John Smeaton - the 'we'll set aboot ye' guy - is standing as a candidate for the Jury Team at the upcoming Glasgow by-election.

On paper, he seems a good choice.

Down to earth. Honest. A 'people's' candidate.

"On yersel' big man!"

Or not, as latest evidence suggests...

div>

I don't think any of the big guns will be quaking in their boots quite yet. In fact, they can probably say what they like about our airport 'hero.'

Even if he gets annoyed, they could, after all, just hide on a select committee.

By the looks of it, 'Smeato' wouldn't know where to start looking...

Bloodthirsty or Blairite?

2009-09-30T11:28:00.025+01:00

I don't think political allegiance is any more obvious than early morning in a student union.

In fact, I'm sure a bird's eye view would provide a much better indicator of the result of any snap-election far better then YouGov's finest.

In the blue corner, you have the Tory's. Lounged in couches, browsing The Times, or if they're in a particularly bloodthirsty mood, The Telegraph.

This morning, they're all smirking at the PM, who is plastered all over the front pages of the national press following his conference speech.

Usually you can catch every third word, if you listen carefully.

This is Edinburgh, remember. Naturally, they're from the Oxbridge academy of class ignorance excellence.

On the edges, slowly gathering, are an increasing number who are just fed up sitting listening to future student union representatives and wanting to be on the 'winning team.'

Speaking of that ill-fated red corner, the Guardian is being passed around like a banker's bonus. Labourites who were seven when Blair swept to power are deperately trying to make Iain Gray sound interesting, while getting thoroughly excited at a reprint of the list of ten-year-old achievements rolled out in Brighton yesterday.

You know, the ones we've heard so often. "The minimum wage, tax credits..."

They're actually buying it, too. As if the list is some sort of excuse for the shambles that has been the past twelve months.

You know what they say, though - like conference delegate, like gullible university socialist. Or something like that.

Down by the coffee stand, the ever growing group of Nationalists are getting flustered at the use of the words 'region' and 'executive' by the Daily Record, while taking apart Alan Cochrane's latest bitter rambling in the aforementioned Telegraph.

FYI, the name Megrahi can set off a small scuffle at one hundred paces.

The Lib Dems are absent, as always, of course, and the Green Party don't believe in newspapers anymore.

It's vicious stuff.

In fact, I'm pretty sure you could get hurt in the crossfire of dirty looks.

So, where am I sitting?

At the side.

Reading the sport section.

On my own.

When writing a blog, it's safer this way.

The decade of double-click

2009-09-23T10:21:00.003+01:00

There's only three months left of the decade next week. The decade - not the month, the year, or anything like that. But a whole ten years. A mini epoch, some might say.

So what, exactly, is this one going to be remembered for?

The eighties was all about industrial striking, apparently. The nineties was definitely cheesey pop. But what about this one?

The decade of the internet, perhaps? We've seen it all grow up, blossom and are now watching as it takes over our lives. What am I doing right now as I type, for example? Exactly.

Not that it's a bad thing, as such. But it's changed a hell of a lot.

We don't buy stuff like newspapers anymore (some might say they never did, mind you) and we don't have to go and buy CDs, films on DVD, or even a television if we don't want to. TV weekly may as well line the rabbit hutch (if that's what you do with rabbits) for all we need it.

It's all about music, film, news and TV when you want it, where you want it, how you want it.

All because of the world wide web.

So, yeah, you could argue it's been the decade of the internet. It's changed our lives, no doubt.

Except, as an actual legacy, it's a bit rubbish, really. Isn't it?

In the seventies the young took drugs and invented rock; in the eighties people battled against oppressive corporate machines; the nineties had, oh yes, the Spice Girls.

And what did we do?

We twittered. A bit.

When we felt like it. Or did banking online.

Rock on!

So folks, we've got three months. Three months to avoid becoming the decade of computer geeks. What to do?

Unless, of course, you fancy becoming one of The IT Crowd.

I'll think about it for my next blog post. Off to check the overdraft the now.

And maybe update bebo, too.

A shot at victory

2009-09-22T23:13:00.001+01:00

Livingston had been relegated.

Twice - in one go.

Division Three. The bottom tier. Pie's for a pound, 200 punters and part time football on what feels like public parks.

Despair, surely?

Well, so far, not quite.

Cliftonhill ticks most of the 'bad boxes' for sure. Elgin don't have a physio. Or a goalie top. But Stranraer - Stranraer is epic. It makes up for it all.

So far, that is... so far.

A cracking wee social club - the place to be for 11.20 am on matchday - does the business. They even serve brandy in a wine glass. You might find out that to your cost. They also serve up shots at ten past three. You will definitely find that out at the cost of your memory.

Solely of the opening 25 minutes, of course...

Who knew it was so far from the ground? Not me. Not many of us.

And so turning up when the game's already won might sound like a bore. It would have been, plenty places. But not here.

Not Stranraer.

Stair Park accommodates for the football fan well. Very well. It provides old stewards in yellow jackets and a pullover to tell you about their time on the committee. It keeps you fit - the only pie-stand being a full half way around the pitch, and the queue takes too long to buy anything. You go hungry.

But you win. 3-0, as it happens. Even though you've missed all the goals.

Did I say this was epic?

Give me another one of those shots. I'll tell you all over again...