Hampden glory would trump Wembley for Guthrie

JON GUTHRIE has been to Wembley and has a winner’s medal to show for it, but confesses reaching a Hampden cup final with Livingston would mean so much more.

The Lions defender was just starting out in professional football when Crewe won the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy with a win against Southend in 2013. Guthrie, who had made a dream move from non-league side Pewsey Vale to Crewe just a year earlier, was injured but was still included in the 20man squad for the final.

However, having been a virtual ever-present for Livingston since joining from Walsall 18 months ago, the 28-year-old insists victory over

St Mirren tomorrow would be a career high and trump that peripheral taste of success.

“It’s probably the biggest, if I’m being honest,” said Guthrie when asked where the semifinal would rank. “It’s the first semi-final I would have played in and, to get some silverware, not only for the club but on an individual level, would be massive.

“It’s probably the biggest game of my career up until now and I just can’t wait for it to get going now.

“I’ve got a Johnstone’s Paint medal. I was injured for the final and I didn’t play in the semi-final.

“So I won a medal but didn’t really feel like part of it in that sense, compared to being involved in this cup run. This would definitely top that. It was a nice little taste of what can happen, but actually stepping out onto the pitch and being involved would be just a whole different level.

“Opportunities like this don’t come around very often. This could be the only chance I get, it might never come around in my career again. So, I’ve got to take advantage of it.”