No away crowd could see Livi lose fear factor

Livi boss Gary Holt

Gary Holt admits he’s having to perform a new role this season.

The Livingston boss isn’t just picking the team and masterminding the tactics for his side’s home clash with Rangers.

He’s also trying to take the place of 10,000 screaming fans.

Holt believes playing football behind closed doors will benefit Rangers and Celtic, who are used to being roared on by huge travelling supports.

Holt said: “Even when I played against them, if you could keep their crowd quiet for 20 minutes, then you ‘d have a chance of maybe getting something because it gets a bit anxious. “Now, they can make mistakes because eventually they get the ball back and they can keep going. There’s not that fear now.

“I’ve loved the games we have played here at Livingston against the Old Firm. “You come out and the hackles are up on the back of the neck, the juices are flowing. “Now you come out on Saturday and you can hear a pin drop, nearly.

“I am loving that we’re back, but now I maybe have to get my enthusiasm into the players. I have to emphasise that this is how we start from minute one. “The crowd can get you going when you get called every name under the sun.

“You like sticking two fingers up to them by getting a result.”

One man who may benefit from a more-subdued atmosphere today is Livi goalkeeper, Max Stryjek.

The Pole will make his competitive debut for the Lions because the regular No. 1, Robbie Mccrorie, can’t play against his parent club.

Holt said: “It will be a baptism of fire for Stryjek, but we’ve had that before. “Everyone wants to play, and he’s come to challenge to be No. 1.

“I don’t sign a goalie to be No. 2. We can’t have that luxury. I need two boys fighting to be No.1.

“The good thing for him, in a way, is that no fans are here and he’s not getting the full baptism of fire.

“He’s a big, level-headed boy who takes things in his stride. He doesn’t seem to get flustered – but I wouldn’t like to see him angry.”

Holt is confident that, despite making an uncertain start to the campaign, Livi can have another successful season.

He said: “We’re disappointed that we haven’t covered ourselves in glory so far, but there’s a lot of games to go.”