THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT
Livi giving gaffer a good kip LIVINGSTON.............................. 1 KILMARNOCK............................ 0 GORDON PARKS AT THE TONY MACARONI ARENA
David Martindale insists Livingston are proving themselves as the bargain boys of the Premiership once again after claiming three points against Kilmarnock.
But the Lions boss insists he won’t be paying any attention to league positions after taking sole ownership of third place, even though that means he can sleep soundly during the international break.
Cristian Montano fired his third goal of the season to grab a first-half winner and Martindale was delighted.
He said: “It’s decent to be in third spot. There is a lot of belief in the changing room and most years we are value for money. We’re up there, punch above our weight and hopefully we can do that again this year.
“I’m going into the international break knowing I’ll get a good night’s sleep this week and next week.
“I try to manage game by game, win, lose or draw. I genuinely don’t look at the league table. Last season we won 13 and were in the bottom six, then the year before we were top six and won 12 games. We manage one game at a time and see where it takes us.”
The Lions offered the early threat with Stephane Omeonga stealing possession from Alan Power and his run from deep ended with a hefty touch in the box when he should have been pulling the trigger.
Killie’s response was a superb cross by Rory McKenzie which only just eluded Danny Armstrong.
The opener should have arrived in the 11th minute and again it was Omeonga who found time and space inside the area but his 18-yard effort was blasted over the top of Zach Hemming’s crossbar when he should have at least worked the keeper.
Armstrong was next to go close as he muscled his way into the box and his low cross was almost def lected past Livingston keeper Shamal George who did well to react and gather.
Livi grabbed the lead in the 21st minute and it was all too easy for Montano as he met Sean Kelly’s corner with a front-post header as Killie’s defence slept.
Another chance arrived moments later for the Lions as Jason Holt jinked inside the box only for his low shot to be blocked by Joe Wright.
Livi had Dylan Bahamboula and Kurtis Guthrie both making league debuts and the pair were prominent in attack as Killie continued to buckle, with their own debutant Christian Doidge starved of any decent first half service.
Lewis Mayo then went into the book seconds before the break for leaving a bit on Kelly but the hosts were applauded off.
More Livingston pressure from the restart required a sliding challenge by Wright to prevent Guthrie from prodding home and both players required treatment after an ugly collision which saw the Lions striker replaced by Esmael Goncalves.
Killie then made a trio of changes as Derek McInnes attempted to trigger some much-needed attacking impetus.
Benjamin Chrisene was robbed by Bahamboula who squared a pass to Scott Pittman but his finish was fired wide.
Killie’s last rally brought no reward and it was another satisfying afternoon for the Lions.