Sparky culd make Livi league leaders

Mar 12 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Sparky’s goals are set to ignite Livingston into final drive as they aim to topple league leaders

Sparky’s goals are set to ignite Livingston into final drive as they aim to topple league leaders

LEIGH Griffiths is the second highest goalscorer in Scotland.

His record of 17 goals in 22 appearances for Livingston is all the more remarkable considering the teenager has missed eight weeks of the season through injury.

Only Rangers striker Kris Boyd has scored more than him this season.

But the modest 18-year-old insists helping rack up points for the team is more important than personal honours.

He said: “I genuinely didn’t know I had scored so many but I’m delighted to know I’ve scored more than some of the country’s top strikers.

“But I’m just focussing on helping Livingston keep moving the right way up the table and maybe I can look at that kind of thing at the end of the season.

“The win over Dunfermline was massive for us especially after we were pegged back by Airdrie on Saturday.

“We were 4-2 up and not to win the game wasn’t good but the defence were magnificent against Dunfermline and helped us to the three points.”

There were concerned looks on the faces in the home stand on Tuesday night as Griffiths pulled up and looked to be struggling and he admits he asked boss Paul Hegarty to bring him off.

“My hamstring was tight and I asked to come off but we had used all our three subs so I had to keep going,” revealed Sparky.

“I tried to stay in the middle and not run too much but with the score at 4-2 I wanted to score another to make sure of the points.”

Next up for the rejuvenated Lions is a home clash against league leaders St Johnstone. A win for Livi would cut the difference to just seven points and Griffiths reckons they are due a league win over the Saints.

“If we beat St Johnstone at home on Saturday then anything can happen and I think the title race could be back on,” insisted Sparky.

“We do have to take each game as it comes and the league leaders are next but we are confident we can do well.

“We’ve only beaten them once in about six or seven league games so we are due a win but we did already beat them in the CIS Cup this season so we know we can do it.”