Livingston captain Liam Fox itching to get back to action

Oct 7 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Liam Fox

LIAM FOX has admitted the international break has come at the worst possible time for his wounded Lions.

Livingston lost their undefeated league record and top spot in the Second Division table on Saturday and skipper Fox admits that each player is desperate for a return to action to make amends for their 3-1 defeat at Ayr United.

He said: “When you have a defeat, you want to get back playing as quickly as you can but we have an international break now.

“So we’ll work hard in training, get on with it and be ready to go for the Stenhousemuir game next week.”

Fox fired Livi ahead at Somerset Park last weekend before Ayr came back with three second-half goals to take the points.

But Fox has refused to make any excuses for the loss, but reckons the unsuccessful penalty appeal for team-mate Bobby Barr just before Ayr’s second goal was a turning point in the match.

He continued: “I thought we had played some good stuff and passed the ball well.

“Ayr scored from a corner then took the lead when we thought we should have had a penalty.

“It was obviously not given and I’m not going to start moaning and complaining about it but I think the majority of the people at the game thought it was a penalty.

“Sometimes you get them and sometimes you don’t but, hopefully, it will even itself out.

“It was a double blow though for the penalty appeal to lead to a goal for Ayr.

“We’re not too happy about it and are a wee bit upset but these things happen.

“It was our first defeat in the league but it has happened and we just have to take our medicine and come back fighting.

“We’ll do that and that’s no problem for us.”

There is very little to separate the top five teams in the table.

Brechin have taken over top spot from Livingston on goal difference but Ayr United and Alloa are both just a single point behind, with ever-improving Airdrie United tucked in a further point back.

Despite their pre-season tag as title favourites, Fox insists Livi always expected things to be tight this term.

He added: “Nobody from our camp thought we would walk this league. We knew we were in for a very hard time and I’m sure there will be ups and downs from now until May but we are ready for that.

“That’s the way football is, there are good times and bad times.”