JUMP THE DYKES
Holt: Livi hero Lyndon deserves Scots cap call .. he should KO Australians
GARY HOLT took time out from savouring his side’s first win over Celtic to insist Scotland should take a punt on Lyndon Dykes. The Almondvale striker is Aussie through and through but his parents emigrated Down Under from Dumfries before he was born and he qualifies for Steve Clarke’s side. National boss Steve Clarke watched at the Tony Macaroni Arena as Dykes, 23, terrorised the Celtic defence and scored the second in the 2-0 win. Proud boss Holt said: “Lyndon is Australian and I thought they would come knocking but then I heard this morning he has Scottish parentage so I’ll be knocking the Australian bit on the head for a wee while.
“He’s a rugby league man and wants his chance. I’ve told him if he keeps working hard then he will get his opportunity.
“I think he can step up for Scotland, not a problem. He has shown his qualities and it’s probably refreshing he doesn’t care who he’s playing against.
“He could be down the park with his pals or out there live on television, it doesn’t matter, he puts a shift in.
“He wants to score goals and BY GARY RALSTON make it uncomfortable for defenders so they know they have been in a game.
“It’s refreshing to see a kid come up the hard way, a bit like myself. You don’t always get the smooth transition all the way through but he has come over from Australia, worked hard, done well at Queen of the South and progressed to this stage.”
Dykes is flattered at the interest being shown in him and admitted Australia would be his No.1 chance – if they came cap in hand.
He said: “It’s a hard one but if they were both on the table I’d choose Australia. I grew up there.
“But I’d love to play for Scotland as well, my parents are Scottish and I think I could do a job for them.”
Livingston had never defeated Celtic since they re-invented themselves from Meadowbank Thistle in 1995 but they dented the Hoops’ title hopes with their victory in this one.
Ryan Christie did his side no favours with an ugly lunge midway through the first half on Scott Robinson that resulted in a red card from ref Willie Collum.
Holt and Robinson both acknowledged it was a red card but were quick to absolve the Hoops playmaker of deliberately going over the top.
The Livingston boss said: “Those records are there to be broken and defeating Celtic is another tick in the box. I’m over the moon.
“I asked them before the game to go toe to toe with their opposite number, look them in the eye and let them know they were going to be in a battle today, all the time asking them if they wanted it. I haven’t seen the tackle for the red card again but it’s just mistimed.
“I don’t think it was malicious. Back in my day it would have been seen as a great challenge!
“It’s a red card but wee Robbo’s okay and that’s the main thing.”
Robinson admitted there were no hard feelings towards Christie.
He said: “My leg is tender now, a wee bit swollen. I haven’t seen it back but know I got caught pretty high and the boys were saying I was quite lucky.
“I know Ryan is not that type of player so no hard feelings.”
To add insult to Celtic’s injury, Robinson opened the scoring in 47 minutes before Dykes struck with the second when he lobbed Fraser Forster.
Robinson said: “Robbie Crawford played a great ball through and thankfully I got the shot away. I steadied myself and made sure I hit the target.