Livi v St Mirren

I thought in our away game against St Mirren they were getting in behind us down the left hand wing/our right, maybe McMillan should play as he's defensively stronger than anyone else we have playing there, and is decent going forward too. I'd go with something like this:





.                                              Alexander


.              Gallagher                    Halkett                              Lithgow


.McMillan              Byrne               Pittman           Thompson/Robinson     Cadden


.                                     Miller                      Hardie

I'd like to see a wee guy with Hardie up front. I'm not sure Miller has done enough to merit being a starter yet.

I see Keaghan is back training and in contention for a game this Saturday, hopefully Byrne will also be ok to play but if not then at least Keaghan can come in, instead of putting Gallagher in there.

Bertie Bassett wrote:I'd like to see a wee guy with Hardie up front. I'm not sure Miller has done enough to merit being a starter yet.

Hardie and Boyd would certainly be more mobile, but we'd need to play it through the midfield and not just lump balls up to them, Miller is prob a better option if we're going to do that. But even then we struggled when doing so against Dunfermline.

Would be great if we played to our strengths instead of trying to play to nullify St Mirren's at the expense of our attack.

Exactly my point though, we are a better team when we play on the deck, we gave Dunfermline more problems doing that than by any of the long balls which were largely dominated by big M'voto - he strolled the game apart from when he got the head knock but even after that he was in control.

St  Mirren were excellent in the away game but we've got some cracking players too, i'd still like to see McMillan at RB to make us defensively solid on that wing but that wouldn't take anything away from our attack as he's also good going down the wing.

I'd love us to win this, it would really give us a cheeky wee chance at catching them, might even start putting doubts in some St Mirren players minds and see how they handle a defeat, but a draw would also be a great result for us to push hard to stay 2nd and give us confidence going into next Friday's game against Utd.

Nobody has made a prediction yet so i'll start the ball rolling, 2-2, fg 18 mins.

Liviforever wrote:St  Mirren were excellent in the away game but we've got some cracking players too, i'd still like to see McMillan at RB to make us defensively solid on that wing but that wouldn't take anything away from our attack as he's also good going down the wing.

I'd love us to win this, it would really give us a cheeky wee chance at catching them, might even start putting doubts in some St Mirren players minds and see how they handle a defeat, but a draw would also be a great result for us to push hard to stay 2nd and give us confidence going into next Friday's game against Utd.

Nobody has made a prediction yet so i'll start the ball rolling, 2-2, fg 18 mins.

if McMillan starts then he'll probably be facing up to Danny Mullen. Actually I'd see that as a potentially more successful tactic than having Josh Mullin (this is getting confusing) or De-Vita. An alternative might be to have Buchanan in the centre and Gallagher facing up against Mullen on the right; they both know each other back to front and will potentially cancel each other out (that's if Mullen even plays of course).

Realistically I don't think we really have any chance of catching them, although I think I read somewhere that a English Championship side were after their manager so you never know how much that would impact, even if we won this one and or game in hand we'd still be eight points behind them which is a massive hill to climb at this stage of the season although I suppose stranger things have happened - a few years ago we managed to haul ourselves out of the relegation point despite being several games behind.

All we can do is aim to drop as few points as possible and hope St Mirren slip up. Of course the match against Dundee United in a week's time will be equally massive.

Looking behind us we're six points ahead of fifth position. Are we hoping that Morton will beat Dundee United in their game in hand to keep us in second place or are hoping for a United win to ease our position in the tip four?

As I recall St Mirren have a pretty tall physical central defence implying that the strategy of lumping the ball up to Hardie/Miller wont work and pressing on the wings is probably the most preferred strategy. I suspect control of the midfield will be critical; we will need to battle for every ball

As with others I'd prefer a more attacking 4-4-2 or 3- 5-2 rather than the 4-5-1 that we've started with on some games this year.

I really don't know which way this game is going to go; I can't see them not scoring but hope that we can force the ball over the line. Halkett scored against them earlier in the season and Lithgow's tactic of wining the header at the far post from a corner could also be useful.

I'll go for a conservative 1-1 with the first goal in the 50th minute (although I obviously hope for better)

While we are long overdue a home win in this fixture I'm afraid it won't be this weekend.
I wasn't overly impressed with them in the previous home game but they are on a roll & I can't see us stopping them.

Liv 0 StM 2
FG 38 mins

I don't think Hardie had a great time there when he was on loan, and it drives him on to score against them, hoping we give him some chances to do so and he gets another hattrick against them, not being too greedy though, a brace would do too.

Maybe the Jack Ross to Barnsley drama will have unsettled their players too, and knocked them off their stride going into this game. Yeah I know, i'm grasping at straws hoping we'll gub them but you never know.

Can't imagine Byrne will be unavailable for this game but could see Hopkin replace Thompson with Buchanan and put Gallagher in midfield. Not an ideal thought for most people on this but Gallagher is certainly a more defensive option against a team like St Mirren.

I have a feeling both teams will have one of those days: Livingston 2. St Mirren 0. FG 68 mins.

Thompson's red card appeal fails, tbh I didn't think we'd have appealed it after seeing the video highlights on P&B, must've looked less of a red card from Hoppy's angle but not enough to change the decision.

It wasn't through the centre St Mirren were running riot in our last game, it was down our right wing, don't see how Gallagher playing in midfield will change that, McMillan would though. Gallagher wasn't even that good in midfield, he just punted balls up the pitch, he was far better when he dropped back into defence after Buchanan went off injured. Keaghan will be available for this game too, i'd rather see him in midfield as a defensive midfielder if that's what Hoppy is wanting to do, Robinson would be a more suitable replacement to Thompson though.

My own Personal opinion on this game is that i think it may prove to be a bridge to far for the Lions tommorrow especially if we cant put out our strongest 11 and are forced to play players out off their normal positions for one reason or another.St Mirren are by no means unbeatable but if you were to offer me a point right now id bite yer hand off for it.First goal will be crucial here and just hope its not them or i can see it being a long day for us.Theyve virtually got the title in the bag but hopefully they have an off day in front of their own support who will no doubt outnumber us again.Good luck Livi,i reckon we are going to need every ounce of it!!!

0-2, FG 11 mins.

Thought we were going to be blootered when they scored so early but credit to the lads they picked themselves up & were excellent.

Did not see that coming at all. Absolutely pumped them. Two majestic goals from Hardie and Miller today - what a pair of signings they could be come May.

Not the most technically proficient Livi side of all time but I’ve never seen one with a better attitude or commitment. The players and management are a credit to the club and supporters.

I fucking love this Livi team. Unbelievable all over the park. Hardie and Miller up top are some sexy bastards, and St Mirren couldn't cope with the direct ball all day. Every second challenge we were first too.

After we conceded in the first two minutes I thought it was going to be tough, but they let us back in straight away. How Samson still gets decent gigs I have no idea.

It just shows the character that we have in this team that we could bring it back, not to mention unbelievable finishing. If we can tie down Hardie with the rest of this squad then e will be going places.

A mention to the St Mirren fans, they were superb all game (brought through 1,600, so thanks for the 30k+) wish we could have that. Backed their team, and although at their home games they are torn faced greeting bastarts today they were decent.

What a game, superb team performance and thoroughly deserved win.

Thought we were knackered when they scored, we started off brightly and forced a couple of corners but the early goal brought back memories of the last 2 defeats by St Mirren and I was thinking, here we go again.

Hardie's equaliser was similar to his goal against Dumbarton, where he put pressure on their defender making him panic and pounced on the mistake, he's excellent at doing that. Superb 2nd goal by him too, kinda saw it coming when Gallagher was only being marked by the one player who was a bit shorter than him, was surprised Ross hadn't done his homework on Lithgow's long throw ins.

Some goal by Miller for our 3rd too, looking forward to seeing it again in the highlights.

2nd half we could've had at least 4 goals, so was glad when Robinson chipped our 4th goal in, it made the score line look a truer reflection of the game.

On the second goal... Gallagher had a couple of long throws that were cleared for another throw in; when the second throw in was put out for the third it was like Lithgow went over and said, "You get in the middle Dec, let me show you how it's done" - and sure enough..

Thouroughly good day, good use of the bench from Hoppy as well, so kudos to him as well.

Looks like Miller's goal is up on twitter already:

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/965013202777067520

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/965018255378341888

All our goals are up.

Well I never saw that coming.

What a great game to watch. It was a day when everything just went right for us. Our players were well up for it while the Saints looked like they thought they just needed to turn up to win. Their defence in particular was surprisingly poor. It is also great not to be talking about the referee for once. He didn't get everything right (the Rafa booking for eg) but he seemed fairer to us than I've seen for a while.

Fair play too to Jack Ross for shaking hands with our players at the end. He was also gracious in the comments I've read.

So Dundee United on Friday. Will we actually be able to break the Friday night jinx and win a game at Almondvale. The fingers are crossed.  

PS Happy to see Miller get his first goal with that delightful overhead kick.

God dont know where to start here.Wow what a performance from Livi yesterday.Has to be up there as one of the best games at the Vale ive seen in many a year.Defensively rock solid,midfeild ran their preverbial socks off and up front absolutely magnificent.All the goals look even better seeing them second time around especially Millers overhead kick for his.Its such a shame that they have such a commanding lead at the top as would be interesting if it was much closer.Special mention for their support as well.Most were magnanomous in defeat including Jack Ross and were a credit to their club all day.Alas we can but only dream of one day having that kind of backing but a big well done to those of that turned up to witness a game that will live long in the memory.Well done to Hoppy and all the lads for the effort they put in to ensure a most enjoyable day was had by all Livi supporters.Thanks.LOL.

It's easy to be magnanimous when you are strolling to the title, but yes they were indeed.

I missed Robinson's goal "live" but that is excellent anticipation from Miller to stroll in unnoticed to intercept & lay it off & it is a sublime finish from Robinson...ok the net is empty but he still had to get it right & did so exquisitely.

Yeah Miller was outstanding yesterday, ran about chasing down balls, tracking back to help in defence, and even into injury time he's nipped in front of Samson to set up Robinson's goal, not bad for a guy that's supposedly past it. Good foil for Hardie to play off up front too, Hardie said in the MDM he wasn't a target man and likes to play on the shoulder of defenders or get in behind them, and Miller helps him to do that.

We're still getting the agricultural, bullying opposition players, long ball team nonsense, even when we outplay and comfortably beat the best team in the league, but feck em, we were the better team all over the pitch and hardly mistimed a tackle, excellent performance.

Wasn't just aimless punts either, the first goal was from a ball up towards Hardie because we know he'll be right on defenders making them panic, and we varied our play with direct attacking football taking advantage of St Mirren's attacking style of play and the space they were leaving in defence. It could have gotten to embarrassing levels of score line if we'd been a bit more clinical, we were strolling through their defence in the 2nd half as they were leaving themselves wide open to counter attacks, so i'm glad Robinson knocked in our 4th goal to make the score reflect how much we strolled the game.

Gary Maley looks like he's dozed off and Josh Mullin looks well bored/pissed off.