Frozen out, but Livi boss Holt can’t get all hot and bothered
LIVINGSTON 0 HAMILTON ACCIES 0
In plummeting temperatures at the Tony Macaroni Arena Livingston found themselves frozen in front of goal as their winless run continued.
In a game that Gary Holt’s side dominated almost exclusively there was nothing significant to show for their efforts as both teams had to settle for a share of the points.
A first-half Jon Guthrie header that came off the base of the post was the only real incident of note in the game.
There were appeals from the Livingston players that the ball had crossed the line but referee Willie Collum wasn’t for indulging any claims.
“I’m saying it’s a goal all day long!” said Holt.
“We don’t have VAR and we don’t have goal line technology, so it’s part and parcel of the game and the ref has made the decision. We don’t cry over it.
“It’s the same in the second half when I thought there was a handball that could have been a penalty, but we don’t complain about it .”
That incident referenced was an apparent handball from Hamilton defender Sam Stubbs. A Steve Lawson corner was flicked on by Lyndon Dykes with Stubbs blocking the effort on the line but initial impressions suggested the ball had come off his midriff.
In any case what irked Holt most was the lack of bite that his side had about them.
Livingston have not won a game since beating Celtic at the beginning of October and Holt has urged his side to find some self-belief in order to get back on to a winning trail.
“You’ve got to earn the right to win the game,” he said. “You’ve got to be proactive and create chances.
“I thought we were in the ascendancy to try and win the game and had a lot of play in
the second half but we needed to be a wee bit braver.
“We knew Hamilton would get a lot of men behind the ball and it might have taken someone shooting from distance, but we didn’t take it on enough.
“If you don’t shoot, you don’t score.
“We tried to win the game and had right good go, but we got caught on the counter a couple of times. But it’s a clean sheet and I can’t fault the lads for what they gave me.”
“The run of games we’ve had, we’ve been defending, limiting chances and not being cut open as we’ve played some of the top sides in the league.
“So it turned full circle today with lots of possession, but we didn’t take on the extra pass or weren’t willing to risk it.”
The only other headache for Holt in the game was the loss of Marvin Bartley.
The midfielder landed awkwardly after clashing with Brian Easton and though he managed to see out the opening period he didn’t reappear after the break.
Holt suggested the problem is with his hip or his back but is confident that he will be fine for Wednesday night’s game against Hearts.
The loss of Bartley did not affect Livingston’s grip of the game.
Accies’ only real foray forward came when Lewis Smith cut in from the right and curled an effort just over the bar but for the most part Livingston had possession without being able to inflict any damage on their visitors.
Robbie Crawford had one rasping, deflected effort which was saved at the second attempt by Luke Southwood. It was just that kind of day.
LIVI:
Sarkic 6; Jacobs 6, Lamie 6, Guthrie 7, Taylor-Sinclair 6; Lawson 6 (Erskine 68 5), Crawford 6 (Robinson 60 5), Bartley 5 (McMillan 46 5), Pittman 6, Lawless 6; Dykes 7. Unused – Stewart, Sibbald, Souda, Odoffin.
ACCIES:
Southwood 7; McGowan 6, Stubbs 6, Easton 7, McMann 6; Smith 7, Gogic 5, Hunt 5, Miller 5; Oakley 5 (Martin 85 3), Ogkmpoe 4(Moyo 64 4). Unused – Fon Williams, Hamilton, Want, Collar, Cunningham.