Livi boss worried about winter

Oct 2 2008 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

ROBERTO Landi reckons the biggest challenge for his First Division table-toppers could be the Scottish winter.

The Livingston boss believes on current form and in a passing game his side are the best in the league.

But he admits he worries how his squad will cope in the cold and wet months at the end of the year when the pitches begin to cut up.

He said: “Our first target is the same it has always been, and that is to get to the 36- or 37-point mark, which would guarantee our safety in the league.

“That’s our first goal, but at the same time if after 18 matches we are still first or just two or three points off the top, then maybe we can go on and win the league.

“But I’m not sure what will happen as this is my first time in this league and in Scottish football.

“In the winter time in the cold weather and after the rain I don’t know how the ground will hold up. We have small players so I don’t know how it will turn out.

“But in the current situation with the good pitches we have a good chance.

“Our team has a very good balance. each position is strong and I think we are the best team in the league at this moment.

“I have seen most of the other teams now and I can see how well we are doing.”

This weekend it’s first versus second when Livi travel to Dumfries to meet Queen of the South.

Landi expects a tough game but insists he will approach it the same way he has every other game this season.

“Since I started work on July 1 we haven’t had any easy matches,” he insisted.

“We are at the top of the table and all the other teams are playing with the maximum respect for us.

“But for me, although it is a very important match, it is only one game. At Queen of South we’ll be doing the same thing we always do and go for a win.

“If we lose we lose but we give maximum respect for every team in the league and there are no easy games.”

A key factor in Livingston’s rise to the top of the table has been the goals of youth-team graduate Leigh Griffiths, and on-loan Jambo Callum Elliot.

Griffiths grabbed eight goals in eight games before injury, while Elliot has grabbed five in three league games in his absence.

But teen sensation Griffiths is ready to return, leaving Livi fans rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of seeing the two play together for the first time.

And Landi admits he is keen to tie Elliot down on a longer deal with the Scotland Under-21 cap due to return to Tynecastle in January.

“We have Callum on loan until January and I hope we can agree a deal to keep him beyond that,” he admitted.

“I’m not sure of the details of the deal with Hearts, but I’d definitely like to keep him until the end of the season.

“It’d be a boost to us but also good for the player as he needs to play.

“Before he joined us he hadn’t played for five months and that’s not good for a player.

“We are lucky to have two strikers like Elliot and Griffiths and Sparky should be back in the squad for Saturday.

“I don’t think he’ll start but he should be on the bench for us.”

You can see our full video interview with the Lions manager on our new website at www.westlothiancourier.co.uk