Leith boss pleads for patience from fans

few issues and we’ve got to tidy up defensively.

‘We can still add. The window is still open and I’ve been consistent in what I believe we need to add, in-house. I won’t say that publicly but it’s something I’ve been banging the drum about for some time now — I’m sure they’ll do everything they can to help.

‘I genuinely do apologise because I didn’t want to start like this. I was full of beans — I still am — going into the season and this has caught us out a little bit.

‘I understand (the fan reaction). I’m disappointed because I love it here, and I believe in us. But I’ve experienced this before in my career.

‘I think it’s magnified by the fact that we’re three games into the season. That’s key; nobody wants to be zero for three.

‘We’re working extremely hard here. We will turn it. I hope that when we do turn it around, and we will, that those fans accept that and come back onside. That’s all I ask, humbly. I accept the criticism and responsibility but I want to do very well for this club and we’re pushing it in all directions.’

Johnson takes his team to Aston Villa for the second leg of a Europa Conference League qualifier on Thursday, having lost the first match 5-0 at home, and feels Europe has been a factor in an inconsistent opening to the campaign.

‘It’s a special moment for them getting to that point and shows there have been successes this season. It’s just been a bit much as a squad to keep churning out good performances,’ he said.

Johnson also reported that goalkeeper David Marshall is struggling to recover from a first-half injury which saw him replaced by Max Boruc.

‘Marshall got a whiplash injury after getting a whack to the chest,’ he said. ‘His back and chest are painful. All those things are not going for us at the moment.’

Livingston boss David Martindale was thrilled to see substitute Mo Sangare get on the scoresheet with a pearler for Livi’s third goal.

‘He scored a similar one for Liberia recently,’ said Martindale. ‘I think I was the only one in the stadium shouting: “Mo, don’t shoot!”. We do a shooting drill where Mo says: “Gaffer, I’m going to lick it” — and, every week, I go: “Mo, when I am going to see this ball getting licked?”.

‘He came off the park tonight and said: “Gaffer I licked it” — and I said: “You certainly did, kid!”’