I deserve a rise after show against Killie!
Gaffer jokes his strong recruitment merits more pay
Livingston boss David Martindale joked he deserves a pay rise after his side’s 3-1 win over Kilmarnock because he’s built such a strong squad.
The win, highlighted by a sensational first-half display in which the Lions netted three times, sent Livi into fourth place in the table and keeps them firmly in contention for a first European adventure in two decades.
The returning Joel Nouble was instrumental with a goal and an assist – nodding home on 10 minutes before playing his part in Stephen Kelly’s wonderful finish that kissed the crossbar on the half-hour mark to make it 3-0.
Bruce Anderson’s sublime strike as he flicked a Nicky Devlin cross into the far corner was sandwiched in between.
Killie were better after the break but failed to build on Christian Doidge’s 47th minute strike.
It was the third game in six days for Martindale’s men and the boss insists the squad depth is so strong he can field two entirely separate starting line-ups.
He said: “I have the luxury of a squad that has two starting XI’s. No matter who I play I could drop most players and replace them with a like-for-like player.
“I made a conscious decision before the Hearts game of having three teams and I was going to rotate the squad. That was the biggest factor in the first-half.
“Derek (McInnes) probably couldn’t make the changes we could make in terms of bringing boys in.
“He had to rely on boys who’d played on Wednesday and it’s really difficult managing that turnaround. I had it in my head and made those five changes.
“They really helped with the game plan in the first-half. Whoever does the recruitment deserves a huge pay rise!”
The gaffer hailed his side’s display over the opening 45 minutes as well as the returning Nouble, adding: “The quality of the finishes, how we progressed the ball into the final third and the execution in the final third was excellent.
“These are patterns of play we work on. Get the ball in the box, wee Brucey (Anderson) getting on the end of it, Stephen Kelly is in the correct area for the third. I’m really pleased with the goals.
“Nouble was huge. I actually thought that they snuffed him out a wee bit in the second-half hence why I tried to move him. They doubled up on him in the wide areas and his fitness levels were dropping but it looked like he hadn’t been away for the first 45 minutes.
“He was incredible, he brings so much to the team.”