Leap of faith for Davie’s Lions
DAVID MARTINDALE insists his Livingston players should have faith they can beat the drop after coming so close to shocking Celtic.
The Lions gaffer was gutted to got out of the Cup after the Hoops pounced with two late goals.
But there was plenty to suggest the fight to beat the drop is far from over.
Martindale said: “It’s been a painful season and we’re on a torrid run.
“I can only hope the players take a wee bit of self-belief, a wee bit of selfconfidence.
“I thought they were very good, it would’ve been easy to come here and accept a 3-0 or 4-0 but they didn’t do that. They played on the front foot and managed the game reasonably well.
“But we now look to the Hibs game and hopefully they take some positivity into that.
“When we have people like James Penrice and Mickey Devlin back for the business end of the season we’ll have big players back to hopefully help us get points.”
Martindale is looking on the bright side but that didn’t mean yesterday didn’t hurt.
He said: “I was disappointed for the players, because they put a lot into the game.
“Their shape and discipline was good and we took the chances when we had them.
“So to have lost 4-2 is disappointing. I’m not saying we should’ve beaten Celtic, but at 2-2 there’s a big save from Joe Hart, the header from Michael Nottingham.
“It’s a huge save in the game, it kept Celtic in the game then they took the next chance. I wasn’t fussed about the fourth because we were chasing the game by then.
“I’m pretty proud of the players today albeit we’re out of the Cup.”