KELLY’S EYE IN YET AGAIN AND HE
GARY HOLT has witnessed the indignation of his defensive unit if they lose a goal amid the relative serenity of a training session, so it comes as no surprise to the Livingston manager to see his players protect a clean sheet as if their lives depended on it.
Holt was fulsome in his praise for goalkeeper Liam Kelly, as the Lions’ ‘sponge’ between the sticks further enhanced his burgeoning reputation with a superb save against Motherwell when the score was delicately balanced at 1-0 to the hosts, defiantly denying young Barry Maguire.
That was the one occasion the Steelmen enjoyed a clear sight of the Livvy goal as the towering trio of Declan Gallagher, Alan Lithgow and Craig Halkett proved an impenetrable yellow wall.
With the visitors blunted, strikes from Stevie Lawless — a Fir Park youth product — and Halkett ensured the West Lothian team claimed a richly merited triumph.
‘Liam is like a a sponge. He wants information. He wants to learn and improve. He is disappointed in training when he loses a goal,’ said a smiling Holt.
‘That carries over into games and it is a mentality all our defenders have.
‘It’s great to work with boys who have that determination. They hate losing goals.
‘We are fortunate to have players who will put their body on the line in both penalty boxes.
‘We marshalled Motherwell well and, when it was required, my keeper was there with a wonder save. It is outstanding for someone so young to keep pulling off these moments with such regularity.
‘The most impressive thing is his concentration levels. He didn’t have an awful lot to do — but still produced the big save.’
After four games without a win or a goal, Holt’s side are now back in the top six and doing what they do best.
‘We have weapons we can use, like Alan Lithgow’s long throw — so we utilise them,’ added Holt.
‘On set-plays, we have people prepared to go in there and get hurt, so let’s not get away from that and