Today sees John Hughes line up against Steven Pressley for a second time this season with ‘Yogi’ looking to claim a second victory over ‘Elvis’ after his Livingston side ran out 2-1 winners at the Falkirk Stadium back in September.
However, such is the fast moving pace of football these days, the two won’t be clashing here at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium and rather Hughes will take his struggling Hartlepool side to the Ricoh Arena for Pressley’s first home game in charge of Coventry City.
Instead, it’ll be the battle of the interim managers as Alex Smith brings the Bairns to Livingston looking to inflict a first defeat on the Lions under the temporary leadership of Richie Burke.
It’s not an ideal situation for either club but that’ll not stop both Smith and Burke going all out to make sure it’s their team that pick up the three points come full-time today.
Smith had possibly the toughest start to his reign with a trip to title contenders Morton and the Greenock side proved to be too much for Falkirk as goals from Archie Campbell and Peter McDonald sealed a comfortable 2-0 win.
With only six points separating ourselves in third and Falkirk in fifth, Smith and his players will be desperate to move on from that loss and look to close that gap as the season end draws near.
It’s just over three weeks since Lyle Taylor’s double was enough to secure all three points for Falkirk against us at the Falkirk Stadium. It wasn’t an evening for great football with the pitch not being in the greatest of conditions but grinding out that win will be something that Smith will be reminding his players of as he looks for more of the same this afternoon.
Of course, although finishing as high up the table as possible will be of huge importance to Smith, his players and the Falkirk fans, you could forgive the Bairns players for having their heads full of Scottish Cup thoughts.
It’s only four weeks today until Darren Dods will lead the team out at Hampden Park as Falkirk face up to Hibs in the last four of this season’s tournament. Some favourable draws have seen the side march to the semi-finals and having avoided cup favourites Celtic in the draw, there’s a real buzz around the team knowing they stand only ninety minutes away from a Scottish Cup Final.
With five league games to play between now and then though, Smith and assistant Stevie Crawford will be doing all they can to make sure that’s put to the back of the mind for the time being and that full focus is given to getting points on the board. Not only that, five games is plenty opportunity to impress the manager so the incentive of a place in the starting line-up that day might be enough to ensure Smith gets the best out of his players until then.
The last time the Bairns visited us here at the BMCS, a late Conor McGrandles goal wasn’t enough to spark a fight back as Gareth Evans guided us to a 2-1 victory in his first game in charge. Today sees Alex Smith looking for his first win in charge of the Bairns whilst Richie Burke looks to continue his 100% record to date.
As always proves to be the case between these sides, a tight affair is very much anticipated.
Dave Black.
As published in 'ROAR' - the Livingston FC matchday magazine.
However, such is the fast moving pace of football these days, the two won’t be clashing here at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium and rather Hughes will take his struggling Hartlepool side to the Ricoh Arena for Pressley’s first home game in charge of Coventry City.
Instead, it’ll be the battle of the interim managers as Alex Smith brings the Bairns to Livingston looking to inflict a first defeat on the Lions under the temporary leadership of Richie Burke.
It’s not an ideal situation for either club but that’ll not stop both Smith and Burke going all out to make sure it’s their team that pick up the three points come full-time today.
Smith had possibly the toughest start to his reign with a trip to title contenders Morton and the Greenock side proved to be too much for Falkirk as goals from Archie Campbell and Peter McDonald sealed a comfortable 2-0 win.
With only six points separating ourselves in third and Falkirk in fifth, Smith and his players will be desperate to move on from that loss and look to close that gap as the season end draws near.
It’s just over three weeks since Lyle Taylor’s double was enough to secure all three points for Falkirk against us at the Falkirk Stadium. It wasn’t an evening for great football with the pitch not being in the greatest of conditions but grinding out that win will be something that Smith will be reminding his players of as he looks for more of the same this afternoon.
Of course, although finishing as high up the table as possible will be of huge importance to Smith, his players and the Falkirk fans, you could forgive the Bairns players for having their heads full of Scottish Cup thoughts.
It’s only four weeks today until Darren Dods will lead the team out at Hampden Park as Falkirk face up to Hibs in the last four of this season’s tournament. Some favourable draws have seen the side march to the semi-finals and having avoided cup favourites Celtic in the draw, there’s a real buzz around the team knowing they stand only ninety minutes away from a Scottish Cup Final.
With five league games to play between now and then though, Smith and assistant Stevie Crawford will be doing all they can to make sure that’s put to the back of the mind for the time being and that full focus is given to getting points on the board. Not only that, five games is plenty opportunity to impress the manager so the incentive of a place in the starting line-up that day might be enough to ensure Smith gets the best out of his players until then.
The last time the Bairns visited us here at the BMCS, a late Conor McGrandles goal wasn’t enough to spark a fight back as Gareth Evans guided us to a 2-1 victory in his first game in charge. Today sees Alex Smith looking for his first win in charge of the Bairns whilst Richie Burke looks to continue his 100% record to date.
As always proves to be the case between these sides, a tight affair is very much anticipated.
Dave Black.
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