Obileye insists no repeat of moment of madness
AYE Obileye has vowed that his moment of madness against Celtic will not happen again – and insists having to wait a month to serve his two-match ban has been painful.
The defender was sent off in the dying stages of the October 30 goalless draw at Celtic Park for slapping Kyogo Furuhashi across the back of the head.
To make matters worse, the Parkhead side were awarded a penalty, but goalkeeper Max Stryjek bailed his teammate out by saving Giorgos Giakoumakis injury-time spot kick.
Obileye is available for tomorrow’s trip with Aberdeen and is now determined to make amends having had a lot of time to consider his petulance due to the Hibs game being postponed and the international break.
Obileye said: “It’s good to be back available again and hopefully I can get into the team.
“It feels like I have been out a long time and it can be tough being out.
“Mistakes like that you have to learn from. The gaffer told me it wasn’t acceptable for this club and I was punished by being out.
“It was out of character for me. I am aggressive on the park, I know that, but usually I am calm on the park and try to be level headed.
“There had been some pushing and shoving and there were some things said.
“Everyone has seen it but it wasn’t like me and it won’t be happening again.
“It was silly from me and I know that.
“The first few days after it were tough, but it was about moving on and working to be ready when I came back from suspension.
“You can’t dwell on things as it can impact your mental state, your training and your performance.
“The thing is I had been playing well before that but because that’s the last thing to happen people remember it.
“It’s been the low point of my season and I feel like I have taken a step back.”
Obielye heaved a huge sigh of relief that Livingston still managed to come away from the game with a point, even though his actions lead to Celtic receiving a late penalty.
He added: “It would have been worse if Celtic had scored the penalty and ended up winning the game.
“Being sent off at a big stadium, where you are trying to impress, was bad enough. To lose would have made it even harder.
“I walked slowly off the park and as I got to the tunnel I turned back and Max saved the penalty and it was a great feeling for me.”
Lions boss Davie Martindale has said that Obileye can become one of the best defender’s in the top-flight and the former Queen of the South player is keen to get people back talking about him for the right reasons.
He added: “People can see the difference in my game from last season at Queen of the South.
“The standard in the Premiership is obviously better than the Championship and you have to be better to play.
“I have been working hard to make sure I can reach the levels I want to get to.
“There is more to come from me and I have to keep grafting.”
Everyone has seen it but it wasn’t like me and it won’t be happening again