Lawless wanted win but ended up with family feud
STEVEN LAWLESS risked the wrath of his family when the Livingston winger rattled home a spot-kick against Rangers.
However, the 28-year-old admits he would have given up that memorable moment if it meant Livi had retained their unbeaten streak.
Lawless stunned his Rangers-daft family last week when he fired the visitors in to a shock lead in Govan, even joking that his dad Gary was ready to lock him out the house if that strike had proved decisive.
Instead, Rangers roared back to win 3-1 and hand Gary Holt’s men their first defeat of the campaign – leaving Lawless desperate to bounce back against Aberdeen today.
He smiled: “It was more relief when I scored the penalty. I grew up supporting Rangers and if I had missed that chance to score at Ibrox I would never have lived it down.
“My dad told me I was lucky Rangers won or I wouldn’t have got back in the house.
“He actually fell asleep in the house when he was watching the scores and then my brother, Colin, jumped up and cheered. I think he got a bit of a fright!
“I am glad we got the penalty and I am glad I scored but – I would rather have not scored and we had won.
“But that disappointment is in the past now, we need to move on and take the good parts of the performance into the Aberdeen game.”
Perennial best-of-the-rest candidates Aberdeen are next up at the Tony Macaroni Arena and Lawless is adamant they can make the most of home advantage against Derek McInnes’ men as they prepare for two massive clashes in West Lothian.
Following the visit of the Granite City side, Livi host Rangers again in the quarter-finals of the Betfred Cup.
Lawless continued: “It gets a bit easier in the sense that it’s at home. When you go to places like Ibrox it’s always difficult with the crowd behind them.
“But even when strong sides like Aberdeen when come here they seem to find it difficult with the stadium and the pitch.
“So we can use that to our advantage and hopefully we can get the right result.”
Meanwhile, Niall McGinn spoke of a “great week” of football ahead for Aberdeen as they prepare for the first of three consecutive away fixtures.
Manager Derek McInnes saw midfielders Funso Ojo and Craig Bryson added to his long injury list with respective hamstring and ankle problems ahead of the game against Livingston.
That match precedes the Betfred Cup tie against Hearts at Tynecastle in midweek and the game against Rangers at Ibrox next weekend. However, despite the pressure on the squad, the Northern Irishman is looking forward to “three very difficult away games.”
“Obviously the manager is needing as many players as fit as possible for a very tough week in the campaign,” he said. “Livingston away and the cup game sandwiched in between Rangers away, all in all it is an opportunity for other players who have maybe not been playing too much to come in and stake a claim.
“The manager has always said that it is a squad-based game and even more so now than ever he is going to need that squad to come to the forefront, impress and do well and hold down a place.
“It is a great week for us first and foremost. It is an exciting week for the club, good games you want to be involved in, especially going to Tynecastle and Ibrox as well.”
I grew up supporting Rangers and if I had missed that chance to score at Ibrox I would never have lived it down