SHOW NO MERCY
Hamilton 2 Want 13, Woods 57 Livingston 4 Sibbald 14, Taylor-Sinclair 32, Lawless 62 (pen), Pittman 65 Livingston heap more pain on Rice as Accies are put to the sword
SENTIMENT and sympathy only stretch so far in football when survival is also tugging at the emotions. Brian Rice can testify to that.
Up in front of the SFA on Thursday to face gambling charges, having held up his hands to an addiction that has been part of his life for some time, the Hamilton manager was roundly applauded before kick-off as a result of a special call for support from the tannoy announcer and made a big deal of returning the compliment.
By time-up, and another defeat that keeps Accies second-bottom of the table, the boos and jeers were ringing out around the Fountain of Youth Stadium. Whoever then thought it was a wise idea to put
on the sound system as the teams trooped off really ought to be spoken to.
With an inevitable relegation battle looming, this is a club that really has to set its mind on pulling in the right direction on all fronts from within.
Rice is certain to find himself suspended after his fate has been decided at Hampden.
His defence has been destroyed by injuries, with captain Brian Easton, Aaron McGowan and Jamie Hamilton all currently unavailable, and Shaun Want being ushered into the physio’s room after this one.
Having got themselves into good positions in both this game and their midweek defeat to Hibs, Accies have pretty much lost their heads.
Yesterday, they allowed Craig Sibbald to cancel out an early opener from Want within seconds and then blew it again after debutant Sam Woods had made it 2-2 following a further Livingston goal from Aaron Taylor-Sinclair.
Two rapid-fire efforts from Stevie Lawless and Scott Pittman made sure of Livingston’s fourth straight victory and left the home side with plenty to consider ahead of an ominous-looking run of fixtures.
‘I thought we were a soft touch defensively,’ said Rice, gifted a special jersey signed by fans’ groups before leaving the stadium. ‘We had a makeshift back four that had never played together and that makes it really difficult.
‘For me to have five or six regular starters out of my team is hard. No team in the Premiership can afford that.’
Particularly when giving away goals within a minute of grafting hard to go ahead.
‘One hundred per cent,’ said Rice. ‘We know their set-plays are good and lost goals from a throw-in, a cross and a corner.’
Marios Ogkmpoe laid the groundwork for Accies’ opener, moving on to a forward pass up the left. He might have taken the opportunity to shoot when moving into the area, but noticed a number of his team-mates charging into the area and poked it across for Want to convert.
From the restart, though, Livvy went straight back up the field to equalise. A long throw-in from Ciaron Brown was poorly cleared by Scott McMann and Sibbald met it on the drop to send a powerful, low volley whizzing into the net from 15 yards.
After that, though, the visitors enjoyed the best of the game and it was no surprise when they got themselves in front.
Aymen Souda put in a cross from the left that travelled all the way to Jack McMillan on the right. Spotting an opportunity, he delivered a good ball to the back post and Taylor-Sinclair was there to score.
Accies did get themselves level thanks to an atrocious error from on-loan Rangers goalkeeper Robby
McCrorie. A McMann corner was directed straight at McCrorie from Markus Fjortoft, but, rather than tip it over the bar with both hands, he chose to scoop it back into the heart of the danger area. Crystal Palace loanee Woods could barely believe his luck and headed home.
That was pretty much that from the home side, though, as Livvy went on to get the rewards their play deserved. Having said that, there was a degree of controversy over the penalty award that resulted in them getting their noses back in front.
Sibbald fired in a corner from the right and referee Bobby Madden, appearing to be directed by assistant Alastair Mather, awarded a handball against Fjortoft.
Lawless fired his spot-kick straight down the middle and was no doubt relieved to see it land in the net after keeper Owain Fon Williams, having already dived to his left, had raised his right hand and got a touch on the ball.
‘I don’t know (why it was given),’ said Rice. ‘I think it might be a handball. I asked the linesman why he gave it and he said: “Bobby’s gave it”.’
Pittman then gave the visitors extra breathing space moments later when knocking the ball home after moving on to a cutback from the left from Lyndon Dykes.
Livingston are rivalling Motherwell to be the unexpected success story of the season, with a top-six finish already looking nailed-on.
‘I think we would have lost that game last year,’ said manager Gary Holt, who admitted he has made an approach to sign Ayr United’s Alan Forrest. ‘Last year, we tapered off for one reason or another. Agents got in players’ ears.
‘I feel this year we’ve got a better squad and better players. And I think we’re only going to get better.’