Coach says Sparky is electric

Mar 12 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

GRAEME ROBERTSON reckons Leigh Griffiths has a one-way ticket straight to the very top.

Livingston’s Head of Youth Development Robbo first saw the prodigious talent when he signed for the West Lothian club at 17.

Since then Sparky has blazed a trail into the top team where now leads the way at the top of the First Division scoring charts.

But Robertson insists he knew from day one that Livingston had a real talent on their hands.

He said: “Sparky came in and was too good for our under 17s so we moved him up to the under 19s but pretty quickly we realised we had to get him on contract.

“He is going right to the top of the game, no question about it. He is electric up front and sometimes the way he plays is unbelievable.”

Griffiths was one of six players to star in Tuesday’s win over Dunfermline to have graduated through the Lions’ youth ranks.

And Robertson reckons that speaks volumes about the work being done at Almondvale.

He continued: “The amount of boys we bring through to the first team speaks volumes to what we are trying to do at Livingston.

“They get opportunities here because the manager says if they are good enough they’ll get their chance regardless of age.

“Andrew Halliday is only 17, Sparky is still just 18, Murray Davidson has been here since he was 13 and we had Cameron Macdonald, Keaghan Jacobs and Mark Torrance all involved against Dunfermline.”

Livi have been scoring goals for fun but unfortunately goals have also been flying in at the other end. The Lions’ last four games have produced 23 goals and the Livi coach concedes the West Lothian side need to tighten up.

“We usually go ahead in a match before then giving goals away. It is entertaining for the crowd and we like to score goals but we aren’t so keen on letting so many in.

“We need to tighten up at the back as last Saturday at Airdrie proved. We were 3-1 and then 4-2 up but we still didn’t manage to win the game.

“Hopefully we used the experience of that game to see Tuesday’s game against Dunfermline out better,” he said.

A midweek win over rivals Dunfermline has set Livi up nicely for the visit of league leaders St Johnstone on Saturday and Robbo reckons it’s too early to rule out a late Livi title bid.

He added: “It is a very tight league where anybody can beat anybody and we’re thrilled to have picked up three points ahead of Saturday.

“The First Division has been so tight for a number of years and I wouldn’t like to say if that win leaves us safe from relegation.

“A few defeats and you’re at the bottom where a few wins takes you back up towards the top.

“I don’t think it is over in respect of relegation or promotion yet.”