Devlin glad to be unlikely Livi hero

FOR all the qualities with which Nicky Devlin takes to the pitch, popping one into the bottom corner from more than 20 yards is not exactly one most punters would have him down for.

His stunning strike in Saturday’s draw in Paisley was less a 100/1 shot than a once-in-a-career moment for a player who, by his manager’s admission, is about as much threat to Max Stryjek’s goal in training as Livingston’s clash with St Mirren was to the top spot on Sportscene.

It was hardly a classic at the SMiSA Stadium but, when all is said and done, David Martindale and his cohorts will likely look back on the point as one gained rather than two dropped. And for Devlin, 28, he got his moment to savour when his perfectlystruck volley flew beyond Jak Alnwick and into the bottom corner to spark wild celebrations from the guests.

“That is me made my play for goal of the season!” said the Livi captain, who scored for just the third time for the club. “There will be no other entries from me. It was a good strike and overall I thought we deserved to take something from it.

“It would have been harsh to come away with nothing. I was lucky enough to be the one who scored it but it’s just good to get the points on the board and that’s five unbeaten now.”

In that run Livi have stopped Celtic and Dundee United in their tracks and picked up vital wins over St Johnstone and Ross County on the road. With a solid structure and their own threat from a host of underrated talents – including Odin Bailey, who once again impressed on Saturday – they are showing why the Livingston stereotype exists and why so many teams dislike playing the Lions.

“We are better on the grass and might be better changing our pitch to grass!” joked Devlin, when asked about the team’s recent away form. “We set up hard to beat to begin with and go into every game aiming to get clean sheets. That can frustrate a lot of teams.”