SUCCESS NOT DUE TO PITCH, INSISTS GALLAGHER

DECLAN GALLAGHER insists Livingston’s remarkable home record is down to steel rather than plastic. The Lions have turned the Tony Macaroni Arena into a fortress this season, with only Celtic picking up more points on their own patch than Livvy’s impressive tally of 20. St Johnstone remain the only side to leave West Lothian with a win, while Rangers and Hibernian have been defeated and the Bhoys were held to a hard-fought draw. Gallagher is acutely aware some will attribute that success to their much-maligned artificial surface but, with Kilmarnock and Hamilton also utilising 4G pitches, he reckons that argument does not add up. ‘There will be a lot of people saying: “Oh, it’s all down to the pitch” — but there are other astro pitches in this league and they don’t guarantee three points,’ said the Livvy defender. ‘You still need to go out there, perform and get the result. There are still two teams fighting for the points and it’s only a pitch. ‘We have got those big results against sides like Rangers and Hibs and it is down to our work rate and how much we’ve wanted to make sure that no one ever comes here and gets an easy ride. ‘We play a pressing, physical, high-tempo game here and, when those elements click, we are a match for any team in this league. ‘We knew before a ball was kicked that we needed to take a lot of points at home this season to be successful. ‘Away matches at Premiership level, with a club as small as ours, will always be a struggle — but we can make this place a fortress. I think we’ve done that.’ The visit of Hearts will be Livingston’s fifth game in the space of just 13 days, a staggering challenge for the club with the smallest wage bill in the top-flight and a small pool of players to call upon. But the Lions are not making excuses. ‘There comes a point when it is about mental toughness,’ Gallagher added. ‘You push through the barriers and get through the games.’