Former Livingston favourite bites hand that once fed by plotting clubs Scottish Cup exit

Jan 28 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

DEREK SOUTAR’S flying penalty save may have earned him the headlines in Livingston’s Scottish Cup defeat but it was former Lions favourite Leigh Griffiths who was the chief architect of their downfall.

Dark Blues keeper Soutar admitted to the Courier after the game he was planning on going to his right when Livi skipper Liam Fox raced up to take the spot-kick in last week’s Scottish Cup clash.

But at the last minute he spotted Sparky signalling to his left.

So Soutar bowed to the former Livingston striker’s inside knowledge on his old pals, took his advice, and saved down low to his left.

It proved to be a pivotal moment in the tie as Dundee scraped through 1-0 thanks to Sparky’s advice.

“I was pointing to Soapy to go that way as the last time I saw Foxy hit a penalty he went to the keeper’s left so I was signalling for him to dive that way,” revealed Griffiths.

“And fortunately for us the keeper saw my hand at the last second and he’s gone that way and made the save.”

Griffiths scored a whopping 22goals in 28 games for Livingston last season before his summer switch to Tayside.

Since then the 19-year-old has picked up where he left off on the goal trail and has already bagged 18 this season for the Dark Blues.

But he couldn’t add to his tally at his former home ground despite having a couple of golden opportunities.

The best came in the 16th minute when he galloped into the Livi box, connecting with a Gary Harkins through ball.

He had time to pick his spot but his effort was superbly saved by his former keeper and team mate Roddy McKenzie.

And Sparky admits he should have done better.

He said: “I thought I should have put the first chance away and I think I showed too much of where I was trying to put the ball to Roddy, who made the save.

“The free kick wasn’t far away near the end but, apart from that, I was pretty disappointed with my game.

“Cammy MacDonald had a job to do and he did it well. He worked hard to make sure I didn’t get on the ball and I barely got a sniff apart from those chances. He did his job well.”

It was Griffiths’ first appearance at Almondvale since quitting the Lions and he admits it was strange to take a seat in the unfamiliar away dressing room after three seasons across the hall in the home team’s area.

But Livingston will always retain a place in Sparky’s heart and their result is the first he looks out for every Saturday.

He added: “I phone Keaghan Jacobs every Saturday to check how Livingston got on and to check how Keaghs played.

“I keep in contact with the boys and always look out for their results.

“It was a wee bit weird walking into the away dressing room at Almondvale but once I got onto the pitch I was fine.

“I did get a wee bit of stick from the fans when I was warming up but they forgot about me for a while when the game started and they gave me a great reception when I came off.

“Livingston were relegated but there is no doubt in my mind that they will win the Third Division and probably then go on and win the Second as well and they will be back up to the First in two seasons.”