GUTHRIE BACKS LIVI WORK ETHIC
No rest over international break
Livingston defender Jon Guthrie believes the hard work over the international break will pay off as they host Hamilton on Saturday.
There might not have been a game last week, but that doesn’t mean the players weren’t put through their paces – and the big centreback wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Speaking to the Courier, he said: “The gaffer likes to work us hard and there’s no real down-time. It was a tough week but it was good to be able to work on some things that you maybe don’t get the chance to in a normal week.
“It was a good working week but obviously you become a footballer because you want to play games so it will be good to get back to it on Saturday.”
The former Crewe and Walsall defender netted the game’s only goal as the Lions picked up their first win of the season a fortnight ago against Ross County and he’s hopeful the confidence from that has continued through the break.
He said: “It was a really big win for us against Ross County. To get that first win is crucial because it does play on the back of your mind a little bit.
“To get that going into the break gives you a boost and I think you can see that in training with the boys all week.
“Everyone has an extra bounce in their step and we’ll be looking to back that up this weekend.”
Boss Gary Holt said the intensity in training may have been an eye-opener to some but insists the players will benefit from it.
He commented: “It ’ s been a good week. We had a lot of great work in and we had a bounce game against Hamilton last week.
“Some boys got minutes there and they realise the way we train and play in these games is to get into the team on a Saturday. I think it opened some of their eyes a wee bit but we came through it and there was a lot of good stuff.
“We’re getting up to speed now. I always thought that the first month would be difficult it’s now just a case of hopefully kicking on.”