Livi are League 1 champs
Hopkin praises his players as Livi finally secure the title
Livingston FC have been crowned champions of League one after sealing a 2-1 victory over closest rivals alloa at the tony Macaroni arena on saturday.
the Lions roared their way back into the Championship at the first time of asking thanks to goals by scott pittman and Jackson Longridge.
a missed Liam Buchanan penalty and an alloa goal couldn’t spoil the party as Livi celebrated their day in the sun.
Head coach David Hopkin heaped praise on his titlewinning heroes saying: “the boys have been amazing this season. to go and win it the way they have and win it with four games to go.”
Livingston boss David Hopkin hailed his heroic players after they secured a rapid return to the Championship by winning the League One title on Saturday with four games to spare.
A hard-fought 2-1 victory over a dogged Alloa side ensured it was party time in the Tony Macaroni Arena after an action-packed 90 minutes which featured 35-yard screamers, missed penalites and a nervous finale.
However, the hosts held on — to the “relief” of Hopkin — and the Livingston manager was quick to credit his players for the achievement of bouncing back up into the Championship at the first time of asking.
The Livi boss ( right) said: “The boys have been amazing this season — to go and win it the way they have and win it with four games to go.
“The boys handled the pressure well, it was a big game and it was important that we approached the game well and I thought they handled the occasion brilliantly.” In front of 1099 fans — Livi’s biggest home crowd of the season — Scott Pittman scored the goal of the game with a strike from 35 yards, while a brilliant individual effort from Jackson Longridge secured a title party on West Lothian soil. Hopkin said: “Pittman’s goal was a great strike. It was one of those games where Alloa could have been two up, then Pittman hits this strike and it settled us down a bit. Then you have a brilliant individual goal from Jackson, who has raced from his own half to get the ball.”
Despite it being mission accomplished in term of the club’s pre-season promotion aim, Hopkin was adamant that the season wasn’t over yet and that his side would be looking to finish the campaign as strongly as possible.
“We’ve still got to get these four league games out of the way and make sure that we go and compete,” he added. “We can’t rest on our laurels as that wouldn’t be fair on the other teams in the league.”
Local politician Hannah Bardell, MP for Livingston, offered her congratulations, tweeting after the game: “They did it! LiviFCOfficial are Ladbrokes League One Scottish champions.”
A West Lothian Council spokesperson added: “We would like to congratulate Livingston FC on their title win and promotion. It is fantastic achievement for everyone associated with the club.”