Benefits of one-off final are Crystal clear to Hopkin now
APLAY-OFF hero with Crystal Palace, David Hopkin famously helped the Selhurst Park side hit the jackpot in the richest game in football. It was 1997 when the midfielder’s heroic injury-time Wembley winner against Sheffield United unlocked the door to the cash-laden English Premier League. Now manager of Livingston, the 47-year-old believes Scottish Championship clubs are being short-changed by the lack of a similarly glamorous winner-takes-all showdown at a neutral venue. Tonight, Hopkin’s Lions host 11th-placed top-flight side Partick Thistle at the Tony Macaroni Arena before Sunday’s return in Maryhill. But the former Scotland international believes the SPFL’s two-legged set-up lacks the same level playing field and sense of occasion as his big moment in front of 64,383 fans 21 years ago. And he feels an instant decider would be a lot fairer to the Championship sides who, in the most extreme case, can sometimes have to negotiate four games before they even meet their Premiership rivals. ‘I wish it was a one-off game somewhere,’ said the Livvy boss. ‘If both sides had to go to, say, Motherwell for one decider, that would be fantastic. It would create more media attention. ‘In the current set-up, you could get a result like Falkirk did against Kilmarnock in the play-offs two years ago, winning 1-0 at home in the first leg. ‘Then, because they had to play again on the Sunday, the game was too much and they lost 4-0. ‘That is probably what’s going to happen again. So I would like it to be a one-off game — give it the publicity it deserves and get it done on the day. ‘Then we could all enjoy a massive day. But I am looking forward to the two legs. ‘The players deserve great credit for keeping their work rate up across a long season and having the stamina to keep going.’ With the third smallest budget in the Championship, last year’s League One winners finished second behind St Mirren and saw off Dundee United 4-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals. In last Friday’s 1-1 draw in West Lothian, Hopkin caught a glimpse of Livvy’s potential when he looked out his office window and saw wife Jean caught up in the large crowds locked out of the stadium. The fact that the club is finally fashionable again after years in the doldrums was reinforced when Hearts and Hibs fans approached him in Edinburgh to pledge their allegiance to the Lions. Yesterday, the feelgood factor continued as restaurant chain Tony Macaroni announced a new three-year deal to sponsor the stadium. It is all a world away from the civil war and financial uncertainty which scarred the club when Hopkin first took the reins as Livvy were relegated to the third tier in 2016. ‘The potential here is fantastic,’ he said. ‘I was out in Edinburgh for a meal with my wife last week and Hearts and Hibs fans were saying they were coming to the game against United. ‘Then when I looked out of my office at 7.40pm on Friday night my wife couldn’t get in the car park, it was so busy. The crowd were pouring into the stadium. ‘The potential has always been here, but we’ve changed the perspective of the club over the past couple of years.’ Hopkin allows himself a thin smile when asked if he has moulded a team in his own image. ‘Dour, you mean?’ But he bristled at the repeated suggestion that his side simply
shell the ball forward and are proponents of roughhouse football. ‘People say it’s long-ball and physical,’ he said. Everyone seems to be jumping on a bandwagon. One person says it and that snowballs. ‘But we’re not physical. We’re hard-working. Yes, we have three centre-backs who can head and defend. ‘But, in midfield, we have Keaghan Jacobs and Scott Pittman, who are 5ft 7ins. ‘And if you look back at our goals this season, we’ve probably scored some of the best in this league. ‘We’ve played out from the back and scored some magnificent goals. ‘If you come and watch us, you would see we do everything. ‘But it doesn’t bother me. I take it as a compliment. ‘Every manager says the same thing about us but, if we are that way, why can’t they combat us? ‘It’s all down to hard work, being organised and knowing we can change to two or three different shapes during a game and everyone knows their job.’ With Livvy having budgeted to finish eighth in the Championship, this has already been a season to remember. But Hopkin has urged his Lions to go for the fairytale ending — and says that, simply by relaxing, they can restore the club to the top flight after a 12-year absence. ‘From my experience as a player, I’ve always said the most difficult thing about the play-offs are the semifinals,’ he said. ‘They are the hardest to get through. ‘Now the final is here, I’ve just told the boys to relax and enjoy it. ‘But you can only relax and enjoy the occasion if you outrun the other team and work harder than them. Then you have a chance. ‘We’ve already had a magnificent season. ‘There’s probably more pressure on Partick Thistle to keep their place in the Premiership.’