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Livingston thrash Ayr. Livingston reached the last eight in emphatic style, thrashing Ayr United 4-0 at the Tony Macaroni Arena. In their first game since …

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Livingston thrash Ayr United 4-0 in first game since Gary Holt exit. By John BarnesBBC Scotland at the Tony Macaroni Arena. Last updated on 53 …

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Livingston match preview

Match Preview
Livingston vs. Ayr United

Betfred Cup Second Round

Saturday 28th November 2020. Kick-off 3pm

On Saturday, the Honest Men travel to the Tony Macaroni Arena to take on managerless Livingston in the last sixteen of the Betfred Cup. Mark Kerr’s side go into the game boosted by a 2-0 win over Dundee last weekend which saw United climb into the top four in the Championship table.

 

Opposition: Livingston will have interim management duo David Martindale and Tony Caig in the dugout on Saturday following the resignation of head coach Gary Holt on Thursday. The former Norwich and Scotland midfielder was appointed Livi manager in August 2018, replacing Kenny Miller, and guided the Lions to Premiership safety in his first season in charge. Further success followed last season when Holt steered the club to fifth, its second-highest ever league finish, however, with Livi sitting 10th out of 12 in the top flight and 12 points from 15 matches, Holt felt it was time to step away from the Tony Macaroni Stadium hotseat.

 

Holt leaves a squad that features former Ayr United fans favourites in the shape of Nicky Devlin, Robbie Crawford (currently on loan at Motherwell) and Alan Forrest. Ayr United Football Academy graduate Forrest has adapted well to life in the top flight following his summer move and has eight goals to his name so far including doubles in his last two League Cup outings. Other men to watch for the homeside include striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who started his career at Arsenal, however former Rangers and Hearts midfielder Jason Holt misses out after being hit with a retrospective two-game ban for a challenge in Livingston’s 1-0 loss at home to St. Mirren on Saturday.

 

The Lions eased through the Group Stage of the Betfred Cup, with four wins out of four against Alloa Athetlic, Edinburgh City, Airdrieonians and Stenhousemuir scoring 15 goals into the bargain.

 

Team News: Tom Walsh misses out through injury.

Mark says: :”We had a good result and performance last week and we really want to build on that. It is important to build momentum and get a run of positive results going. We know how tough it will be, Livingston are a good Premiership side however we won’t be going their to defend. ”

 

League Form:

 

Livingston: LLLDL

Ayr United: WDLDW

 

Head to head:

Ayr United wins – 21

Draws – 13

Livingston wins – 19

 

There have been four meetings in the League Cup between the sides, with each side recording two wins.

 

Previous Meeting: United and the Lions met in the Group stage of the Betfred Cup last season at Almondvale. Goals for Aymen Souda and Ricki Lamie gave Livi all three points, with Andy Murdoch netting a consolation for the Honest Men.

 

Team: Doohan; Ferguson, Harvie, Bell, Roscoe (Muirhead); Murdoch, Docherty, Kelly, McCowan; Moffat, Doolan (Forrest).

 

On this day: in 2001, the Honest Men defeated Inverness Caledonian Thistle 5-1 in the quarter-final of the League Cup, setting up a semi-final appearance against Hibernian. Ross Tokley scored the first goal of the game at Somerset Park for the visitors in the 9th minute but James Grady, John Robertson, Pat McGinlay and a Eddie Annand double sent the Honest Men to Hampden ater Tokely was sent off shortly after scoring.

 

Match Officials:
Referee – David Munro

Assistant Referee 1 – David McGeachie

Assistant Referee 2 – Aklan Mulvanny

Fourth Official – Steven McLean

 

Streaming:

The live stream of Saturday’s game is available to purchase now at https://ppv.livingstonfc.co.uk/events. The price is £15.00

Supporters will need to set up an account prior to buying a game pass then will login to their account on Saturday to view the game.

Please note that PPV purchasing cuts off at 14:30 on Saturday, so please purchase your pass before then. PPV purchasing will open back up after KO for anyone who may have missed the deadline.

HonestMen Picks:

Download the new HonestMen Picks app on Apple or Android and predict Saturday’s match action for a chance to top the live leaderboard and win cash prizes.