MATCH STATS Friday cup clash
Livi proceeded to go up the other end and were denied a penalty of their own before they were forced to defend, sometimes frantically, for the remainder of the game to ensure a victory that even at this early stage could prove crucial.
Head coach Hopkin admitted he was happy with the display, and the vital three points.
He commented: “Alloa started very well and put us under pressure. We had to make sure we stayed strong early on and that’s what we did.
“We didn’t have any full-backs today so we had to keep the pitch narrow and play a different style to what we usually play. We’re happy for the three points.
“We battled hard and I’m delighted with the way the team performed with the changes we made.” Alloa Athletic: Parry, Taggart, Waters, Graham, Marr (Longworth 53), Goodwin, Robertson, Holmes (Donnelly 63), Cawley, Kirkpatrick, Spence. Subs not used: McDowall, Wilson, Hoggan, Scullion, Martin. Goal: Spence (65 pen). Booked: Taggart, Marr, Spence. Livingston: Kelly, Crighton, Halkett, Lithgow, Mullin, Pittman, Sinclair (Byrne 63), Cadden, Buchanan (Carrick 76), Mullen (Allan 88). Subs not used: Maley, Knox, Currie, Smith. Goals: Pittman (24), Buchanan (34), Miller (39). Booked: Mullin, Cadden. Ref: Craig Charleston Att: 712 Livingston’s IRN-BRU Cup fourth round clash away at Northern Irish champions Crusaders will be a 7.45pm kick-off on Friday, October 7.
The match, which will be shown live on Premier Sports TV, was always likely to move from Saturday due to Northern Ireland taking on San Marino in a 2018 World Cup Qualifier in Belfast that day.
However, the Friday night kick- off has sparked widespread criticism from Lions fans, with the club tweeting: “Please note the decision to play on a Friday night was made by the SPFL and not Livingston FC. We are very sympathetic to fans’ concerns.”
We battled hard and I’m delighted with the way the team performed