Chapter 3
So, we just finished pre-season. I am back from a rest in some nice place in Scotland after pre-season. The players needed a bit of a break, players added me on Instagram, Snapchat and were talking about how their short break post pre-season went. I saw their Instagram stories and pictures and some of their Snapchat content. They appeared to have a lot of fun. I posted a cheeky picture of my vacation on Instagram as well, because why not?
Anyway so I spent my time getting the players in the mood to train and one of my players said that he wanted to engage in tutoring youngsters.
And that player is Liam Buchanan. He is going to tutor the prodigy Matthew Knox. All I've got to say to Liam is that he better be a good influence to the young kid. Kids go astray sometimes, this guy is very talented and we need him at his best this season.
Oh and look, what a surprise. Another injury!
This time is Mark Millar, who is out with a hernia for 4-6 weeks. Get well soon, Mark. We need you.
And the bookies are expecting us to finish on top of the table. No pressure.
We had our second game in the group stage of the 2016/17 Betfred Cup. And it was against Stirling.
When we played this game we played a counter attacking game. Both sides did not create much in the first 20 minutes or so and it was a slow start. Then was a free kick to Stirling in the 24th minute. That was the first chance of the game and it was not converted. A few minutes later Shaun Byrne had 4 continuous free kicks and missed all of them. I was hoping one of them would go in. But it didn't.
The game was too dull so we started playing more attacking football. Mullen, the striker from our team had a glorious opportunity in the end of the first half and he missed it.
It was 0-0 at half time. It was not very good. So I made a change, I took Mullen off, and brought Matthew Knox on. He showed exactly why he is so highly rated and got the breakthrough in the 49th minute. He made an instant impact when he came off the bench. Also Nicky Cadden put in a lovely pass towards Matthew Knox to make the goal happen. Livingston lead 1-0. In the meantime, Fraser Wright from Stirling got booked in the 49th minute.
Knox had a great opportunity after a short while, it was parried away by the keeper.
Stirling had an opportunity to score in the 59th minute. but Kelly saved the goal.
Jordan Sinclair came off and Scott Pitman came on in the 68th minute.
A little note about Jordan Sinclair though. He was sent off in the last game for getting 2 yellow cards. But he was allowed to play. There is a rule in the Betfred Cup that if a player gets 2 yellow cards and gets sent off he is allowed to play. And the rule of the suspension after getting 2 yellow cards in a game only applies during the knockout stage. It was a weird thing to witness. But it's cool that he was available to play.
Anyway seconds after that, we get a free kick and
FINALLY Shaun Byrne scored the free kick in his fifth attempt. It deflected off the player's head who was standing in the wall, but it is counted as Byrne's goal. 2-0 to Livingston.
GET IN LADS.
We had a few more chances, and we couldn't convert any of them to extend our lead. Then Kieran Sommerville came on for Liam Buchanan in the 80th minute.
Kieran Sommerville is a young striker, who is 18 years old. He has decent potential. And I brought him on to provide a different option in attack and hopefully extend the lead.
Stirling had a couple of chances at the end of the game, but we held on. And the game ended 2-0 to Livingston.
This was a very good win for us. The first half we were sluggish, but then we got that little spark through Matthew Knox in the second half. Shaun Byrne's free kick was beautiful, we were very good defensively. I'm happy to get the first victory. We improved after the Partick Thistle defeat which was very bad, and there were encouraging signs in today's game.
This is the list of the bookies' prediction for Player Of The Year. Just wanted to show this in here. It will be nice to see one of our players win though.
So we are now into our third game of the group stage of the 2016/17 Betfred Cup. This game is against Dundee United. It is a big game.
I started Matthew Knox over Danny Mullen because Matthew Knox was brilliant in the last game and he needs the playing time to develop. Also he needs to learn how to play in the big occasions. This will give him great exposure.
In this game, Dundee United had a good start, Charlie Telfer scored in the 10th minute, the passing and movement was sublime, Coote unlocked that defence and Telfer scored. We were trailing 1-0 against Dundee United. It looked like it was gonna be another battering. A nice ball was played to Murray in the 16th minute, he missed his opportunity to make it 2-0 because Liam Kelly made an amazing save. Buchanan had a great chance for us but Zwick saved his shot. A cross was put in by one of the players of our team and Jacobs was on the end of the cross, he ran into the box and was taken down by the defender. It was a penalty for us. Buchanan stepped up, and he scored. And what a penalty it was, he totally sent the keeper the wrong way and put it in the back of the net in the 20th minutes. The score was now 1-1. Byrne had a free kick for us in the 21st minute and it just went over the bar.
After some time, Blair Spittal from Dundee United got injured, it was a twisted knee.
Murray had another chance, it was throw in from Robson, there were some dodgy tackles from our midfielders but he missed his chance to score again. Blair Spittal carried on despite his injury. It is 1-1 at half time. This game has been really good so far.
In the second half, a poor clearance by Murray falls straight to Cadden, he shoots and it gets deflected off the defender. It goes out for a corner. Jacobs swings it in, there is a little ping pong of the ball by Knox and Crighton with their heads and it goes to Buchanan's head. And
HE SCORES.
We took an unlikely lead through David Buchanan's header. It is 2-1 to Livingston. Buchanan got his second goal. Cammy White came on for Nicky Cadden in the 59th minute. There was a chance for Dundee United through a corner and Allardice had a header, but it was defended well by our team. And then immediately after that there was a shot by another Dundee United player which hit the post and was saved by the keeper at the same time. There were a flurry of chances for Matthew Knox and David Buchanan after that, it was a nice spell of play for us.
Kieran Sommerville and Scott Pitman came on for Knox and Byrne respectively in the 77th minute.
Longridge from our team, had a free kick in the 84th minute and it went wide. A few moments later, a player from our team got taken down in the box and we got another penalty. It was the 87th minute. Buchanan took the penalty again but Zwick saved it this time. Dundee United had a last minute corner but Kelly held on to the ball.
We won the game 2-1 against Dundee United away from home. What a win. I mean the way we played against opposition of higher quality really impressed me, we showed a lot of character after being 1-0 down. The defence was absolutely great and we stopped the wave of attacks Dundee United had against us. Liam Buchanan was very good today and he was easily the man of the match for me. I am happy for the fans. They got to see such a great display away from home. We were certainly showing improvement.
And no, Ian Cathro you cannot have Matthew Knox, sorry.
Gary Maley, the backup keeper resumed full training so that was good news as far as the injury situation is concerned.
So finally we have made our
first signing this summer, and it is
Ronan Hughes.
He has joined our club on loan for 6 months. He is a 17 year old youngster from Hamilton. And he is a right winger. He is a good dribbler and can cross the ball nicely, he is not overly pacy but hopefully he is pacy enough for the level we are playing at. He has good potential and his current ability is good enough for the level we are right now.
There is some very bad news though. Liam Kelly is out with a hip injury for 2-3 months. And it is a huge blow. No doubt about it. Get well soon, Liam.
We have Gary Maley who is going to play as our goalkeeper now.
So we have reached the final game of the Betfred Cup group stage. If things go our way we qualify for the second round. This game is against Clyde at home. It was the same team, barring Liam Kelly due to his hip injury. Gary Maley replaced Liam Kelly for this game.
Liam Buchanan started off this game with an early chance in the game. It was a quiet first 15 minutes in the game. Then Gormley from Clyde had a good chance and luckily it is still 0-0 despite his good header. In the 23rd minute we had a chance, Jacobs crossed it in but Knox headed it just over the bar. Then in the 37th minute Byrne had a free kick but it went over the bar. I switched to a more direct style of play and it worked immediately. Knox ran into the box and got taken down by the Clyde defender, it was a penalty for us. Buchanan took the penalty and he scored. It's 1-0 to Livingston. At the end of the first half, Buchanan passed it to Knox but Knox fired it wide. It was 1-0 at halftime. We were very steady and I hoped to see my team kick on in the second half. Buchanan had another chance in the 52nd minute and it went wide. Then Byrne started his attack, he passed it to Buchanan and his shot was saved by the keeper but it fell into the path of Matthew Knox and he scored. We lead 2-0 against Clyde. Buchanan had another chance after the goal but he fluffed it. Meanwhile Gormley also had an opportunity to score at the other end for Clyde but he didn't score.
Scott Pitman came on for Jordan Sinclair in the 60th minute. Also Gormley had another chance yet again for Clyde in the 78th minute but no luck. Danny Mullen came on for Liam Buchanan at the same time.
There was a sort of chance created by us but Matthew Knox was offside despite the fact he scored. And then Mullen had a chance through a cross by Jacobs but he put it just over the bar.
A late goal was scored by Clyde at the other end of the pitch, Sean Higgins scored through a cross by Easton, the score is now 2-1. It was the 89th minute.
And then we scored our own late goal in the 91st minute, this time it was Danny Mullen who scored it through a great counter attack. That sealed the result. We were winning 3-1.
We won 3-1 against Clyde at home. A good win for us, despite the late goal for Clyde. Three strikers scored for us which gives me selection problems as far as strikers are concerned for the upcoming games. Shaun Byrne ran the show in midfield. Very happy with Gary Maley's performance after he came in as the first choice keeper after Liam Kelly's injury. Things are looking good.
Also we have qualified for the
SECOND ROUND of the 2016/17 Betfred Cup. I am so proud of my team. What a comeback as well after we got thrashed by Partick Thistle. That win against Dundee United was the highlight of this group stage performance.
We now have the draw for the second round of the 2016/17 Betfred Cup.
And we got drawn against Inverness CT. I would've liked an easier draw but we have to play at our best since it is Ladbrokes Premiership opposition.
We also had the Scottish League Challenge Cup draw. There are 24 teams to be drawn in this cup. We have been drawn against Kilmarnock's Under-20 side.
There is some news regarding tutoring of players. Scott Pitman is tutoring Jay Willis, the young midfielder. So hopefully it works out.
There is also some good news as far as injuries are concerned. Michael Miller is fit now. That's absolutely great news. Just in time before our first league game as well.
We are into our first league game of the season. And it is against Stranraer at home. I'm really excited and I am looking forward to this game. Of course the league performance is a massive priority this season and we need to do well. Miller and Pitman came in for this game because for some weird reason Longridge and Sinclair were suspended.
Pettigrew had the first chance for Stranraer in the 5th minute. (Not that Pettigrew from the Harry Potter series, btw).
Our first chance came through Shaun Byrne in the 9th minute, he made a run into the box. He shoots but the shot goes wide. Then the very next minute, Nicky Cadden crosses the ball in and Matthew Knox scores the goal for us. 1-0 to Livingston.
Buchanan had a chance in the 23rd minute but the goalkeeper collected the ball.
Then Keaghan Jacobs swung the ball in from a corner in the 41st minute, the ball went to Crighton's head and he headed it back to Knox, Knox somehow goes past 3 defenders and makes a run into the box, he shot the ball towards the near post and it went in. The score is now 2-0. Knox is tearing that defence apart.
It was 2-0 at half time. Things were looking so good. We were playing like we want to do well this season. Crighton and Turner received bookings in the first half though for their respective teams.
Malcolm from Stranraer had a chance in the 52nd minute and the goal was saved by Maley, the ball went out for a corner and Agnew took it, he crossed the ball in, Malcolm flicked the ball with his head towards the head of Bell and he scored. The score is now 2-1. Stranraer have pulled one back.
Scott Pitman came off, and the player who he is mentoring, Jay Willis came on in the 60th minute. Nothing much happened for the next few minutes. And then there was another substitution, this time it was the new signing Ronan Hughes who came on in the 74th minute and Keaghan Jacobs was taken off.
We switched to a defensive style of play. There was a pass by Buchanan to Knox in the 82nd minute outside the box, Knox shot it and it went in. What a lovely goal that was! We extend our lead. The score is now 3-1.
He completed his hattrick.
Shortly after that, Liam Buchanan was taken off and was replaced by Danny Mullen in the 83rd minute.
And in the second half there were three bookings to our players, Mullen, Cadden and Willis.
This was how the game ended. 3-1 was the final score. Matthew Knox showed exactly why he is so highly rated. This kid is something special, scored a hattrick against proper pros at the age of 16. It was the Matthew Knox show. A great win. And 3 points in the bag. It's always good to get off to a winning start.
Also there is no surprise about the fact that Matthew Knox got into the team of the week.
The next game for us was the 2016-17 Betfred Cup Second Round against Inverness CT. We were looking in good shape, we won 4 games in a row and we were hoping that maybe we can cause an upset against Inverness CT.
Both teams had great chances in the first half. Shaun Byrne had a free kick in the early stages, it went over the bar and Charsley had a good chance in the 26th minute but it went wide. Josh Meekings was a huge threat because of his long throw-ins. We switched to a defensive style and it was 0-0 at half time.
In the second half, Buchanan created a good chance for Knox to score and it grazed the top of the bar. There was a good move by Inverness in the 56th minute, Roadall had a shot, a brilliant save was made by Maley. There was an own goal scare after Mulraney jinks past the defender, his shot hits Crighton and trickles towards Maley, and he saved it. At the same time Jay Willis came in for Scott Pitman, shortly after that Jay Willis made a nasty tackle on an Inverness player but somehow does not get booked.
We switched to a more direct style of play in the 63rd minute. Shortly after that Inverness had a great attack, Polworth passed it to Doran, he dribbled into the box and scored, we trail 1-0. Cammy White came on for Nicky Cadden in the 67th minute. Meekings was a threat through his throw-ins and he threw the ball to Polworth in the 68th minute, who shot and the ball just smashed the bar. The Livingston defence cleared it.
A few moments later, Doran attempted something like a shot, and while defending Alan Lithgow scored an own goal in the 74th minute, the ball just trickled into the back of the net.
Doran had another chance through a quick attack by Inverness but it was hilariously wide.
A final throw of the dice by me as I sent Danny Mullen on for Matthew Knox in the 76th minute. We switched back to a more attacking style, hoping that we can get a consolation goal. In the meantime there was another chance for Doran, and then later we had something like an attack in the 81st minute.
A few minutes later Inverness had a great attack, Meekings threw the ball to Charsley, he passed it to Polworth, Polworth passed it to Doran and Doran scored. 3-0 to Inverness. Game over. They scored in the 89th minute.
That's how the game ended. We lost to Inverness CT 3-0 away from home. It was a disappointing defeat. We collapsed after showing so much resilience for a little more than 60 minutes. The mental aspect of our performance was something which let us down. Aaron Doran was the star of the game. Alan Lithgow was unfortunate with his own goal. My tactical switch to a direct style did not work out. We were brought back down to earth after 4 straight wins. Unfortunately our Betfred Cup run this season ends at the round of 16. We have exceeded expectations in this competition, so I cannot complain that much.
This is the league table so far. We are third in the league. Also Matthew Knox is our top goal scorer. Liam Buchanan and Nicky Cadden top the assists table with 2 each. Shaun Byrne has 2 man of the match awards. Matthew Knox has the highest average rating, i.e 7.38. Jordan Sinclair has a 90% pass completion rate which is the highest amongst our players.
So far it is a steady start to the season. We have been scoring goals. Our defence is slightly worse than attack, but for now it is under control. Shaun Byrne is bossing the midfield. Matthew Knox is showing the talent he possesses. Liam Buchanan has chipped in with important goals.
Thank you for reading. I hope you have enjoyed reading it. Looking forward to your response and feedback.
C'mon Livingston!