Montano admits it’s a mystery how his strike found way into the net

CRISTIAN MONTANO fired Livingston into the quarter-finals of the Viaplay Cup — and revealed afterwards that he still hasn’t the faintest idea how he did it.

With the West Lothian outfit a goal in front thanks to Joel Nouble’s early effort, the Colombian wing-back raced onto a forward ball just after the hour and released a shot that somehow made its way into the back of the net following an outbreak of bagatelle in the penalty area.

Asked for a little clarity on what actually happened within the maelstrom, Montano admitted post-match that he hadn’t the foggiest. Indeed, he doesn’t even know if he should be given the goal at all.

‘You know what?’, he said. ‘I have no idea what happened. If I am being given the goal, I’ll take it.

‘All I know is that I shot and, between their centre-back, full-back and the goalkeeper, it hit someone four or five times. I was just in the middle of everything, thinking: “What is going on here?”

‘I hope I got the last touch, but I’ll have to watch it back.

‘It wasn’t a pretty game, but we had to get the job done.’

There was certainly no question about the nature of the opener, mind you. It was a clean finish from Nouble and will only intensify interest in him as we reach the closing stages of the transfer window.

With 12 minutes on the clock, Kurtis Guthrie flicked on a ball from Jason Holt and put Montano (right) in a good position on the left. He delivered a dangerous ball across and Nouble delivered the finish.

Stephen Kelly then had a shot saved by goalkeeper Robbie Mutch, but most of the notable action came after the interval — and eventually saw Livi streak away from their Championship rivals for what proved to be a relatively straightforward win.

Home manager David Martindale had stated beforehand that he didn’t believe there was much of a difference in standards between both sides — and you could argue that the game confirmed that — but his men just had a bit too much in the most important areas of the park over the piece.

Not even a first start for Ayr’s player/ technical manager Aiden McGeady, who still oozes quality in his touches even though the fitness levels still require a little bit of work, was enough to bridge the gap.

Early in the second 45, Montano was foiled by the combined efforts of Mutch and Sean McGinty as he moved onto a forward ball inside the area with Ayr’s big chance to make a game of it coming after the hour. Frankie Musonda fired in a low cross from the right that sat up nicely for Paddy Reading around 20 yards out. He made strong contact with his leftfooted shot, but it took a deflection off home defender Luiyi de Lucas and Shamal George reacted well in goal to make the save look straightforward. Within three minutes, Montano had killed it stone-dead. He moved swiftly onto a ball up the left and his shot took a very clear deflection before looping past keeper Mutch. Montano had a clear sight of goal again shortly afterwards after moving on to a ball across goal from substitute Bruce Anderson, but his thunderous low effort was saved by Mutch.

And any lingering hopes of an Ayr comeback faded late on when substitute Fraser Bryden saw an effort saved by George.

‘In the first half, I don’t think we were great at all. But in the second half, I thought we were a lot better,’ said Livi boss Martindale. ‘The park was a bit sticky and I don’t think it helped the game that much.

‘The clean sheet is the big one for me and gives us momentum.

‘I went in at half-time and had a wee bit of a nibble at the players. I think they reacted in the second half.’

Visiting boss Lee Bullen reported himself happy with his side’s overall play — and commitment to trying to pass the ball — and remains optimistic about the Championship season ahead.

‘Livi are tough opposition, very strong and well organised. The only difference between the teams was in the two boxes,’ he said.

‘It excites me the group of players that we’re trying to put together. Aiden and Logan Chalmers are X-factor players. When they’re fully up to speed and I get Jamie Murphy fit then there’s shoots of excitement, I think.’