Livi v Ayr

I'll risk starting this thread, even though we haven't won any i've started this season (2 draws and a defeat), so it'll be my fault if we lose this, or i'll break my duck and we win.

Up till the late collapse against Sevco we've looked pretty solid at the back, but not great offensively, and our main goal threat is prob going to be out injured still. So expecting a tight game here, though we've now played 2 of the top 3 teams in the Country, so should be a bit sharper going into this than the group games.

Can't believe i'm saying this, but i'd drop Nouble for Guthrie starting, alongside St Kelly and MacKay in a front 3. Guthrie has looked lively up front, and would be a good foil for MacKay and Kelly to play off, but Nouble just isn't putting in the same effort nowadays, and i'd rather have a player who is giving us 100%.

Hoping for this;


                                                Shamal

               de Lucas                    Obileye                         Devlin

  Brandon                   Holt                       Sangare                    Montano

             St Kelly                          Guthrie*                           MacKay


*i'll be shocked if Nouble isn't at least playing alongside Guthrie, but i really hope he's dropped to the bench.

No VAR in this cup game, though it hasn't become the centre of attention with long delays every 5 mins in league games this season.......yet. Actually forgot it was there in our home game, though the one check it did, we should've had a red card given to the Aberdeen player for his tackle on Guthrie, and the same player injured Bruce. And at Ibrox it correctly ruled a Sevco goal shouldn't stand.

This week feels like it has dragged in, still 2 days to go till match day, and i'm really up for it now, hopefully our players are feeling the same.

First half was far too laboured, playing it about in our half till the predictable launch up the pitch, as Auld Nick said, one of those long balls was flicked on by Guthrie to Montano (who was about our only forward thinking player wanting to make driving runs) and i instantly said this is a goal, nice cross in and Nouble sticking it away.

Was hoping we'd bring Brandon on at HT to balance the wings, with another player that would drive forward, and even replacing de Lucas with Nottingham, as he looks like another that would make runs and do overlaps with Brandon, but we stuck with it. The minute Pittman came on we looked a different team, his pressing helped get us the 2nd goal, and we were actually winning balls in their half and playing through the midfield. Couple of good long balls in behind from Nouble for Anderson and Montano, which should've seen us scoring more goals, but the 2nd goal gave us a cushion and we finished the game comfortably.

Ayr did put in a cracking ball behind our defence, which Shamal had to be on top of to keep our clean sheet.

Thought the game plan was to bore them to death, much better with Pittman and Brandon playing though, we really need to stop being so negative in the first half of games.

Hopefully another home draw, and we avoid the erse cheeks. Ideally County, or winners from the Hibs v Raith game.

Just know it'll be Hearts away though.

Would be a great financial boost if we could reach the semi's and get an erse cheek at Hampden.

I think Montano always looks to go forward, Holt, Shinnie, St Kelly, our 3 CB's, Penrice, they all turn back too many times looking to play safe, gets on my wick. That's why i was also wanting Brandon on, because he's like Montano and tries to get down the wing.

The game against Aberdeen i was shocked when i saw Holt and Shinnie passing forward all the time, both are the worst culprits for playing it safe, sideways and back.

2nd half the game changers were Brandon and Pittman coming on, Pitts esp was pressing all over the pitch, forcing mistakes and encouraging the rest of our players to stay up the pitch and get stuck in. That's when we started winning the midfield, and actually passing it through midfield. All first half we just played it about the back line then launched it long, usually towards Guthrie. But even then we weren't pressing forward to win 2nd balls and play it in their half.

Montano set up the 1st goal and scored the 2nd, should've had another if he'd hit it first time and not taken a touch, think it was Nouble sending him through, or sent it to Bruce who then set up Montano, sure Nouble also sent Bruce through on goal. Anyway a much better 2nd half once the subs came on.

Wish Martindale would stop playing Penrice or Montano as RB/RWB though, and just stick with Brandon. Really needing to sign another RB to cover Brandon for injuries/suspensions too, don't think Welch-Hayes is good enough yet.

Sevco away, Livi board will be delighted, should make 300K plus from our share.

Troy wrote:Agreed.Was the draw i was hoping for all things considered. Probably another pumping but hey ho we'll take the blue pound at least £££.

Take it we'll also get half the tv money, certainty to be on viaplay with only Sevco left in the cup, from the only 2 teams Viaplay are interested in. They'll be greetin if we have a shock result and knock them oot.

Davie's had a dry run at it last weekend, hopefully he's learnt something that can help him find a way to beat them.

Auld Nick wrote:What makes you think he wants to beat them?

It's only Celtic fans that believe that pish.

Yeah it's a tricky balance, we can't be too open or they'd just destroy us, but we can press them when they come into our half and look to break on them when we turn over possession. Nouble is ideally suited for this game if he's interested, giving us an out ball, but i'd have Bruce on too, he's good at pressing and a better finisher than Nouble.

Knowing how Martindale likes to play them though, i suspect we'll be pretty compact playing with a low block, trying to keep it 0-0 going intol HT, and be more attacking 2nd half.