Livi v Airdrie

Should be an easier game than our last 2 but can't take anything for granted, and i'm still not convinced we have enough fire power up front this season. Saying that, we only need to score 1 goal to get a result, we're pretty solid at the back and Alexander is an improvement in goals.

3-0 Livi, fg 7 mins.

No Mullen or Knox for this game, they left for Cardiff yesterday and will stay there till the rest of our team join them next Friday.

We still should have enough with Carrick and Todorov up front, and plenty of midfielders can get us goals too, so i'l stick with my 3-0 prediction.

Good chance of Peters and Mackin getting in on the goal action too, playing against League One sides in our next 2 games.

Don't like the team being weakened when they could have been watched in 2 competitive games & then in the friendly they could have played for Cardiff.

We owned Airdrie last season, they will want revenge & I can't see us beating them for the 6th straight time (4 league & 1 cup match last season) = so

Liv 1 Air 1 FG 36 mins

Liv to win on pens

Mullen is a real nuisance to opposition defenders so he will be a miss. Knox was showing what he is capable of in the friendlies and against Thistle last week. He would have been handy to have in the team against Airdrie and Stranraer but he hasn't been such a regular as Mullen.
It's a gamble not having them available so I hope it pays off in all senses.

Livingston 2. Airdrie 1. FG 25 mins.

Mullen especially will be a miss, we're really thin on the ground as it is, with a small squad and some injuries.

In saying that, I reckon 2-0 Livi.

Good opportunity for Peters and Mackin though, both should be able to score against League One sides. Mullin will play again too so I don't think we'll miss Knox, and we've a few younger players that look decent in midfield if they're needed for the Stranraer game.

2-1 Livi. FG 27 mins.

Ithink that Danny,s enforced absence could be a wee bit of a leveller here for Airdrie on account of the amount of times hes ran them ragged recently.But it does give the other guys a chance to show what they can do against arguably weaker opposition than we have been used to lately.Hope im wrong but i can sense a share of the spoils may have to suffice here with Livi winning it on pens again thanks to super Neil.Do It Livi!!!

Cadden being out is a bit of a bummer too, he scored 3 or 4 goals against Airdrie last season.

Well that was a stroll in the park, really comfortable win that was 2-0 going on 6. Lovely to watch at times the way we stroked the ball about, hit precision balls over the top and onto our runners, and little interchanges that were Barcelona esque.

Mackin had his best game in a Livi shirt too, I've been quite critical of him in all his previous appearances so credit where it is due, he had a great game today and actually could've had a hattrick. I thought him and Todorov up front worked really well too, they linked up well with flick ons from headers and both had good hold up play.

Our defence strolled it and I think the only ball Alexander had to save was from a free kick that was going towards his bottom corner, he could've sat with his feet up for most of the game.

Only criticism I've got is that we didn't get a 3rd goal for my prediction to be spot on, useless feckers that they are.

Didn't think I was going to make it but got in with about 12 mins played. Went in the nearest gate so sat in the unfamiliar surroundings of A2 and got drenched during the monsoon.

Agree with your assessment LF, decent save by Alexander from that free kick mind. I thought Pittman was superb, covered every blade of grass, tracking back, bursting forward and unlucky not to score in the second half when a defender blocked hit shot more by chance than design after a patch of decent play. DeVita was calmness personified. The back 3 strolled it. Byrne was comfortable, same with Mullin. Tod & Mac up front were decent enough but would like to see them have more attempts on goal. Jacobs dictated the second half after coming on for Mullin. Peters & Hamilton both had decent contributions. Special mention for Jacko, I thought he was excellent today, up & down the left wing constantly & a real thorn in the side of the Airdrie number 2 who actually had a reasonable game himself.

We fly out on holiday next Saturday & will be away for 3 weekends, so we'll miss the league opener against Dunfermline & this was my first glimpse of the side this season... They looked very confident & a much better collective unit than the side that was relegated, which shows what can be achieved when bouncing back from the drop in style as we did last season. Here's hoping we continue with that as the season continues & hope too that Dunfermline are using up their goal scoring "chips" against the cannon fodder in their group.

Liviforever wrote:
Mackin had his best game in a Livi shirt too, I've been quite critical of him in all his previous appearances so credit where it is due, he had a great game today and actually could've had a hattrick. I thought him and Todorov up front worked really well too, they linked up well with flick ons from headers and both had good hold up play.

Nope I still can't see what Mackin offers. He scored today but it was from a ball that landed at his feet in front of the goal. He still looks unfit and for me doesn't put in enough effort. I really do want him to be good but at the moment for me he is a waste of a jersey. He had at least two great chances where he failed to score. One was in the first half when he got the ball in a great position and hit it straight at the goalie. In the second half he got the ball and started running with no one in front of him and ended up losing it.
I'd still love him to prove me wrong.

Lol .Orco, you're a tough lass to please, I thought he put in a lot more effort today and won a lot of headers and linked up well with Todorov. Agree he should've scored another 2 goals, esp the one set up on a plate for him in the first half after some fantastic play, but at least he scored and improved on his previous performances. There's a bit of hope he can keep on improving.

Oh and I think the Ref deserves a mention, Mike Roncone, i'll have to look out for his name if we get him again, best referee I've seen at a Livi game for many a year. Thought he was fair to both teams, kept his cards in his pocket when he could've booked both teams late on in the game for pulling a player back to stop him breaking on them, and didn't make any contentious decisions all game. Didn't even get noticed for most of the game which is always a good sign, and also didn't get booed off at HT or FT.

With you being an expert on referees, and having a list of all the worst ones we've had, i'm interested in what you thought of this one today.

Yeh he was one of the better ones. Haven't had him before. I'll need to get my list started for the new season.

Here's the goals.

https://vimeo.com/226572218

LiviLion wrote:Here's the goals.

https://vimeo.com/226572218

Your link didn't work...took me to Vimeo but it said that the page didn't exist

As comfortable a victory as ive seen from the lions in a long time and thoughrally deserved.Should have probably been outasite by half time but nonethess a great performance from the lads in very trying conditions weather wise.Thought our back 3 absolutey strolled through the game especially Longridge who ran them ragged.Special mention for Pitts to,ran himself into the ground with a great shift.All looking good but not getting carried away but nonetheless well done boys and keep it up.

Bertie Bassett wrote:

LiviLion wrote:Here's the goals.

https://vimeo.com/226572218

Your link didn't work...took me to Vimeo but it said that the page didn't exist

Works fine for me

Cracking header back across the goal by Halkett for our 2nd.

Durnford wrote:

Bertie Bassett wrote:

LiviLion wrote:Here's the goals.

https://vimeo.com/226572218

Your link didn't work...took me to Vimeo but it said that the page didn't exist

Works fine for me

Yeah, working for me now too, wasn't earlier hence my post.

Any reason why these are not available as "Livi TV"?

I had a perfect view of Halkett's goal. TBF the bench kept yelling for back post crosses and players to get into position for those sorts of opportunities, I'm sure they felt justified when that went in.

I described Mackin's goal in a text as an attempt to put the ball over the bar that failed & looking at the goal on the video I think I was right! It looks like a complete mis-hit that luckily went in.

His earlier one didn't miss then, that went right over the bar.

Wonder if Carrick will start on Tues or be rested up for the league. With him getting a dead leg against St Mirren they might not want to risk him in these Betfred games against the League One sides. We should have more than enough to beat Stranraer no matter who starts up front though.

I enjoy beating teams like Airdrie on a monthly basis but they look like a team who won't finish any higher than 8th/9th in League One. That club is in a grim situation.

If they lose Andy Ryan they'll finish 10th.