Match Preview: Livingston
LIVINGSTON versus Morton
Tuesday 13 March 2018
Tony Macaroni, Livingston
Kick-off 7.45pm
Match Preview
Morton have been handed a quick-fire opportunity to make amends for Saturday’s 3-1 defeat away at Falkirk with a rescheduled midweek meeting with Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena tonight.
Although the Cappielow club only lost by a two-goal margin in the end, the manner in which they found themselves trailing 3-0 within 30 minutes caused manager Jim Duffy to describe the display as ‘horrendous’.
The Ton boss, though, has always been consistent in his mantra that it is the game ahead that matters. Whether a 3-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice or the weekend defeat, he’s never been one to dwell on a result.
This also applies to previous encounters against an opposition club, and so the fact Ton have lost all three head-to-heads with David Hopkin’s men is not something he will consider significant in terms of this evening’s clash.
Those outcomes, though, are an indication of how tough a proposition Livi have been this term, and they quite rightly find themselves riding high in the Ladbrokes Championship.
Ton are sat right behind them in third place and will be aiming to close the eight-point gap to five by upsetting the applecart and triumphing on their first visit to the Tony Macaroni Arena this term.
Manager’s Thoughts
Jim Duffy told gmfc.net: “In football you’ve got to move on regardless. We’ve had some fantastic results away from home and don’t sit there and ask everybody to pat us on the back.
“Because immediately you’ve got to think about the next game – and it’s the same when you get a bad result and a bad performance
“We’re not going to sit here and feel sorry for ourselves; we’re going to roll our sleeves up and go again. Football is a game about moving forward.
“Saturday is done, it’s gone, and we don’t want to replicate it because it was a very poor first-half performance. But you can lose 3-1 to Falkirk, plenty of teams have lost 3-1 to Falkirk, you can lose 3-1 to any team in this division.
“It was just that we were so poor in the first half it was unlike us, so if we can go to Livingston tonight and be more like ourselves and are competitive as we normally are then fine. We’ll see how it goes from there.
“Livingston have found a level of consistency in abundance and all credit to them. They have their targets and so have we, so it will be a competitive match.
“All the games have been very tight this season and Livingston have managed to nick all three so far, so let’s see if it can be our turn tonight.”
Team News
Lee Kilday, Jamie McGowan, Ross Forbes, Robert Thomson, and Jai Quitongo are joined on sidelines by Michael Doyle, who serves a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.
However, defender Luca Gasparotto is available for selection after a rib injury, as is emergency loan signing from Partick Thistle Gary Fraser, and both make the bench.
Current Connections
Livingston gaffer David Hopkin is a well-known face at Cappielow having started and finished his playing career with the club, as well as serving on the coaching staff as Under-20s boss, assistant manager, and interim manager.
Recent Meetings
Tue 5 July 2016: Livingston 2-2 Morton (Pre-season Friendly)
Tue 15 Aug 2017: Morton 0-2 Livingston (Irn-Bru Cup, first round)
Sat 26 Aug 2017: Morton 0-1 Livingston (Ladbrokes Championship)
Tue 27 Feb 2018: Morton 0-1 Livingston (Ladbrokes Championship)
Last Time Out
This scheduled midweek fixture was one of the few to survive the Siberian blast, but Nicky Cadden’s 47th-minute strike ended Ton’s hot streak as David Hopkin’s side recorded their third win on Sinclair Street this season.
Officials
Referee: Greg Aitken
Assistant one: Graeme Leslie
Assistant two: Willie Ferguson
Supporters Notes
Entry is pay at the gate and the admission prices are:
Adults: £18
Concessions*: £12
Under 16s: £5
*Full-time students on production of a current matriculation card, U18s, registered disabled (if with a carer and under 65 full price paid but carer admitted free)
All fans will be housed in the Main Stand. Morton supporters will occupy sections A1 and A2, and enter via turnstiles 1 and 2.
Fans under the influence of alcohol will not be admitted and are liable to arrest. All bags will be searched, with random searches undertaken.
Surfing flags are not permitted and any other flags will be checked to ensure that they are not offensive or derogatory. Livingston have a policy on unacceptable conduct and behaviour, which will be fully enforced.
Travel
Travel by Road: Tony Macaroni Arena, Alderstone Road, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 7DN
A8/M8 eastbound – exit at junction 3 (Livingston) – A899 (south) following the signs for St John’s hospital or the stadium.
Travel by Rail: Greenock – Glasgow Central – Livingston South (25-minute walk to stadium).
Parking:
Coaches and cars: Parking is available in the main car park. There is a £5 charge.
Image: David Bell
