JUST JOB THE
Everyone knowing their role key to Livi success, insists Lithgow
Livingston defender Alan Lithgow believes the reason behind their successful start to the season is simple — everyone just doing their jobs properly.
The 29- year- old centre- back has been arguably the Lions’ stand-out performer during the early stages of their life in the Championship and played a starring role in last week’s win over Dumbarton. The defender grabbed a goal and an assist against his former side which ensured Livi go into the international break sitting in fourth place. He said: “To be honest, we’re just doing the same things we were doing last year and really taking it one game at a time and not getting ahead of ourselves. “We’re playing well and I think it’s really simply down to everyone knowing what their job is and doing it to the best of their ability and keeping it simple. “We’re a very confident team because we’re picking up results and know that we can compete at this level.” He added: “The switch to full-time has been a big positive for me, especially in the fitness side of things but I always had belief in my ability to be able to play at this level.”
Having waited over 50 games to notch his first goal for the club, the defender now has two in three games and he admits he’s only too happy to help chip in.
He commented: “I had to wait long enough to get my first goal, so to get two in the space of a few days is good. Obviously my job isn’t to score goals but it’s always a bonus if I can help out at that end.”
And he admits he’s looking forward to a rare Saturday off after what has been a hectic start to the campaign, adding: “We’ve really been at it for a few months when you take in pre-season, so to have a weekend off and give your body a rest will be good, then we can kick off again.”
That was a sentiment echoed by head coach David Hopkin who said: “The wee break has come at the right time and will let the guys recharge their batteries a bit before the Dundee United game.
“Hopefully a few of the guys with injuries will be able to get back to fitness.
“Raffa de Vita, Nicky Cadden and Scott Robinson all have wee knocks and we hope they’ll be back but Ross Brown has a broken metatarsal and he’s out for five or six weeks.”