Trouble agents won’t get in my players’ ears
Holt: Livi more settled & ready to kick on
Holt was thril led as goals from Craig Sibbald, Aaron Taylor-Sinclair, Steven Lawless and Scott Pittman earned his side their first league win on the road since August.
It’s been 18 years since the Lions last ventured into Europe but after a fourth win in five league matches, Holt’s men are becoming serious contenders for a top-four spot come May.
And the gaffer reckons they are better prepared for the rigours of the second half of the season than 12 months ago.
He said: “We showed great resilience today having fallen behind and then falling back to 2-2. I think we would have lost that game last year.
“Today we broke at times and could have caused them a lot of problems.
“There are a lot of games left and we just take it one by one.
“We might not get to games down the line as I could be sacked if we lose five in a row. But I’m delighted with where we’re at. At the winter break last year we had 29 points and now we’ve got 31.
“But last year we tapered off for one reason or another. Agents got in players’ ears and pre-contracts were signed. We juggled the team about to see if others
Hamilton
Livingston could cope. But I feel this year we’ve got a better squad and better players who can kick on in the second half of the season.”
The only sour note was a strop by winger Aymen Souda who kicked out at hoardings after being subbed.
But Holt played it down, saying: “We will have a wee discussion. His blood levels were high and he was probably p***ed at getting taken off.”
Livi thoroughly deserved their victory and closed the gap on Aberdeen in fourth place to just five points while pulling two clear of Hibs.
But it was Accies who struck first in 13 minutes. Lewis Smith played a lofted ball into Marios Ogkmpoe, whose deft touch fed Mickel Miller.
His cut back was crashed into the net from seven yards by Shaun Want for his first senior goal.
But within two minutes Livi were level. Ciaron Brown’s long throw found its way to Sibbald, who volleyed home from just inside the box after Accies had failed to clear their lines.
Things got worse for the home side just af ter the hal fhour when Jack
Mc M i l l a n ’ s deflected cross looped over
Owa in
Fon Williams, leaving full-back
Taylor
Sinclair with a free header right on the goal l ine . He couldn’t miss and it was his first goal for the club since moving back north from Crewe in the summer.
Fon Williams pulled off a good save to deny Souda as the visitors threatened to stretch their lead – but it remained 2-1 at the break.
Accies’ sloppiness in possession was infuriating boss Brian Rice and Blair Alston was thrown on for Smith in 56 minutes – and almost immediately the home side equalised.
Scott McMann’s corner found the head of Markus Fjortoft. Keeper Robby McCrorie failed to hold his effort and debutant Sam Woods followed in to power home a header.
But Accies were level for just four minutes. Fjortoft was penalised for a handball from Sibbald’s corner and Lawless lashed home his 10th goal this term from the spot. It was game over in 65 minut e s when Pittman netted with a f l ick af ter good wo r k by Ly n d o n Dykes
Was having a comfortable afternoon until the 62nd minute flashpoint which handed Livi a third. To be fair it was an assistant who called handball. 7/10
BOBBY MADDEN: