O’Donnell wants rules to be clearer
Livingston managers points to ‘bad memories’ in formalwear
MOTHERWELL full-back Stephen O’Donnell has called for a simplification of the rules as he prepares to return to the Fir Park starting line-up for this evening’s game against St Mirren.
O’Donnell has served his suspension following his dismissal in the Lanarkshire derby, a penalty he incurred for a tug on the shirt of Hamilton’s Ross Callachan. The Scotland internationalist apologised for the incident after the game but has raised an eyebrow about whether the letter of the law is applied across the board.
“It’s frustrating because I have not tried to end the boy’s career,” he said. “You make a split-second decision and he goes down.
“It is a penalty and it is red with the rules. The linesman had great vision, though, as he managed to see it through four bodies, but he did get it right.
“There was a similar one with Alfredo Morelos in
Europe on Thursday night and the boy doesn’t get sent off. All anyone wants is clarity so the rules are not so complicated.
“Everyone just wants some consistency. I know VAR would cost too much for Scotland, but even with it there are so many inconsistencies in England as well.
“It is a killer for refs and I don’t think we should be blaming them all the time. I just think we need to simplify the rules a bit. It doesn’t need to be so complicated.
“Players know the rules and what we can and can’t do – we just need to get better and making the right decisions.
“But on the whole I think we would all like a wee bit more simplicity that would make it a lot easier for the refs. We don’t want to be talking about their decisions more often than not.”
Of more pressing importance is tonight’s game in Paisley.
Motherwell’s recent performances and results have dragged them back into the mire with O’Donnell warning that the focus now has to be on climbing back up the table.
“It is one game at a time and it is the mentality that should have been in place from the start of the season,” he said.
“It is a big game and St Mirren have a lot to play for as they push for top six. We played well in the first game against them up at St Mirren and I don’t see any reason why we can’t push on.
“Hopefully if we stick together and get a few bodies back it can help us. I thought Max Johnson did very well so I hope I am selected but myself and I think Allan Campbell should be back. If there are few other injuries coming back then hopefully that can give us a wee lift but it is irrelevant because we are a team and we have enough quality to do better.”
Meanwhile, Ryan Flynn is wishing St Mirren team-mates Jamie McGrath and Jake Doyle-Hayes a speedy recovery – even though he knows it could put his place in Jim Goodwin’s team under threat.
McGrath suffered a dislocated shoulder against Celtic earlier this month while former Aston Villa youngster Doyle-Hayes injured his foot against Aberdeen.
Goodwin feared both Irishmen – who are among his top performers – could be out for the remainder of the season.
But the good news for the Buddies boss is the pair are both likely to be available before the split as Saints look to clinch their place in the top six.
“Suspensions and injuries have helped me get back in the team but the bigger the squad you have the better,” he said. “I definitely don’t want to see boys getting injured and hopefully the likes of Jamie and Jake can come back soon.”
WITH no supporters watching on, no overnight hotel stay, no traditional pre-match meal and no team bus, Sunday’s Betfred Cup final is certainly shaping up to be a bit of a different showpiece occasion for Livingston.
However, to cap it all off, David Martindale has revealed there will be no traditional cup final suits adorning the Lions at the national stadium, because the get-up brings back too many ‘bad memories’ – of being sent to prison and his wedding!
Martindale’s remarkable rehabilitation from his six-and-a-half-year prison sentence is such that he can now afford to make light of one of the darkest days of his life. Looking smart was of no benefit when he was
‘sent down’ at the High Court in 2006 and the 46-year-old has no intention of risking ridicule from his squad in the Hampden changing room by dressing up to take on St Johnstone.
“I’ve only worn a suit twice in my life,” he said with a wry smile, “and do you know what’s happened to me? The first time I was sent to prison and the second time was at my wedding. Which was worse? No comment!
“So, a suit brings bad memories – I got six-anda-half years and then I got married so I won’t be doing it again.
“I’ve had companies calling and emailing me and offering me a free suit for Hampden but, seriously, can you imagine me walking into our changing room with a suit on? We’d be done, the boys would be all over the place, they wouldn’t know what was going on.
“They won’t be wearing suits either. It’ll just be the normal training gear. Could you imagine Efe Ambrose in a suit? That would put me off so it’ll be tracksuits for everyone. I’ll maybe text Callum Davidson and ask him to wear
one too, but he’ll probably put me to shame on the touchline.”
After Gavin Reilly’s recent positive Covid-19 test led to defender Julien Serrano and goalkeeping coach Tony Caig being forced into quarantine, Livingston decided the players would drive themselves to away matches for the remainder of the season.
That arrangement will remain in place for the cup final, whilst proposals to eat out for their pre-match meal have been cancelled by the Scottish FA protocols ruling they would have to stay overnight or book a day room to enjoy a hotel’s catering facilities on Sunday morning.
Instead, Martindale is hopeful familiarity will bring out the best in his players in the biggest match the club has faced since lifting the League Cup in 2004.
“We’ll keep things as normal as possible – I don’t want to spook the boys,” he added. “We won’t do anything different because that’s the way it’s been in my seven years here.
“During that time we’ve had other big games – Premiership play-offs, etc – and we’ve always kept things the same. We just keep rolling along, do what we do and trust the process.
“For the semi-final we took the boys to the Dakota [hotel] for a luxury pre-match lunch and they all enjoyed that but you need to stay overnight to have the lunch now and that adds another £3000 to the cost for 30 people.
“So, we made the conscious decision we’d like to stay with our families, wake up with our families in the morning, head to the stadium [Almondvale] and get our pre-match meals, then head through to Hampden in our cars.
Meanwhile, key striker
Scott Robinson and skipper Marvin Bartley have both been declared fit for the final after training with the squad yesterday.