Holt tells his Livi players ‘hard graft’ comes first

Rather than focus on last season’s elevated league finish, Livingston manager Gary Holt wants his players to remember what it was that enabled that overachievement and get back to doing what they do best.

Slow to get going against St Mirren last weekend, today they have been charged with heading out against Hibernian and demonstrating the qualities that allowed them to go unbeaten against the Easter Road side last term and ultimately finish ahead of them in the Premiership standings.

“When you are known for something, that thing that you can hang your hat on, you have to deliver on that. People know when you play us it is a battle but I felt on Saturday we tried to play on talent and that doesn’t win us games I am afraid,” explained the Livingston boss.

Last season, egos were kept in check, feet on the ground and players put in the hard graft. Together they reaped the rewards. A return to their roots was advocated early in the week and the West Lothian boss is hoping that will lead to immediate improvements this afternoon.

“They have agreed that we have to do the graft and then the talent comes out within that as you have earned the right to play. In the second half against St Mirren we earned the right and we were picking up second balls and playing the way we like to.

“It was only the first game after five months and it will take time. We knew in the first month there would be bumps in the road as we weren’t up to speed. Normally we have played eight games before the first league game, so we are playing catch-up.

“Listen, they deserved the plaudits of last season but that’s done. You can’t be six months on and say ‘can we start again?’ We need to do it now. I think we showed it in the second half but you have to give St Mirren credit as they defended well. They put their bodies on the line. We had enough balls into the box, crosses and corners but we didn’t have enough first contacts, but we can work on that.”