Lions take a bite out of Brechin in clash of title hopefuls

Feb 3 2011 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

IAIN RUSSELL says the fierce competition for places in the Livingston camp is fuelling their current hot-streak of form.

The Lions hit-man, who scored a wonder opener against Brechin, believes having to scrap it out with likes of Robbie Winters, Kenny Deuchar and Raffaele De Vita for just two striking berths can fire them to title glory.

He said: “I was delighted to score the goal as I’ve had a few chances lately and missed them but I’m delighted to have scored again but even more delighted with the result.

“I’d be disappointed if I wasn’t getting the chances and I did get a wee bit of stick from the boys for missing a few on Saturday.

“But the team is continuing to create chances so I’m happy with that fact although I know I’m not going to score with every chance I get.

“It was a big game for us tonight and it would be nice to keep the momentum going and play again on Saturday but it could maybe work in our favour to have a wee break with us clear at the top.

“The next game now is down in Ayr and will be massive for us and we’re looking forward to it.

“We started really well against East Fife on Saturday before we let them back into it and took our foot off the gas a bit.

“It just seemed to happen but against Brechin it was a real team effort, we were all working hard for one another and it all clicked into gear.

“There is a lot of competition for places up front and it could be any two from the four of us who start any given week.

“But I do feel each of us are quite different and we are four very good strikers.

“We have real strength all over the squad and the guys who came in tonight did really well.

“We were missing our captain tonight but Kyle (Jacobs) did really well and shows the strength we have here.”

Russell and Robbie Winters netted a goal apiece to edge the battle of the Second Division title hopefuls as Livingston handed nine-man Brechin their first league defeat on the road this season.

A win for Brechin would have seen them leapfrog Livingston and move into top-spot but it proved to be a match which the hosts controlled almost from the get-go.

And when the visitor’s talisman Rory McAllister was sent off in the second-half their hopes of taking anything from the game faded and Gerry McLauchlan followed his team mate in for an early bath before the end.

Russell grabbed the opener after 25 minutes in sensational style when he bent a stunning shot right into the top corner.

Then just a minute from the end Winters settled it with a solo effort driving down the left before clipping the ball over the keeper from close range.

Livingston had the first chance after 11 minutes when Kyle Jacobs, one of the three Jacobs brothers in the starting line-up, won the ball with a tigerish midfield tackle and fed Iain Russell who spun and sent a dipping shot just over the crossbar.

Six minutes later Brechin had their first sight of goal when Rory McAllister got on the end of an Andrew Cook but his header dropped into Tony Bullock’s arms.

But the Lions roared into the lead on 25 minutes when Kyle Jacobs retrieved possession with another strong challenge and quickly played the ball to Russell who again immediately looked for goal but this time dispatched an unstoppable drive into the postage stamp from 20 yards.

A one-two between Kenny Deuchar and Russell created another chance for the goalscorer who managed to get his shot away but Paul McLean threw a leg out at just the right time to make a crucial block.

The lively Russell also had the first chance of the second-half but sliced well wide from six yards out after a knock down from Deuchar.

Deuchar himself had his side’s next opportunity after a neat ball from Bobby Barr but his tame effort was easily gathered by Craig Nelson.

It was all Livi and Deuchar went close again before Paul Watson forced a stunning stop from Nelson with a header from a Joe Hamill corner kick.

Brechin’s chances suffered a major blow on 68 minutes when they were reduced to ten men after McAllister picked up a second booking and was subsequently sent off.

Sub Winters should have settled it nine minutes from the end after being played in on Nelson by Russell but failed to get a solid strike away and the ball bounced into the keepers’ arms.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors were reduced to nine men on 83 minutes when Gerry McLauchlan was shown a straight red after blocking Bobby Barr.

And a minute before the end Winters put the gloss on what could be a pivotal win in the race for the Second Division title with a stunning clincher.

Brechin boss Jim Weir admitted his side were second-best on the night.

He said: “It was really disappointing and we just didn’t turn up. The players have been on a great form not to lose for 16 games away from home but we didn’t take anything from the game tonight and I certainly didn’t see that coming.

“Too many players didn’t perform and they know that themselves. Tonight was just a bad night at the office and hopefully we learn from that because the best team won by a country mile.”

Courier Man of the Match: Kyle Jacobs

Livingston: Bullock, D Jacobs, C Barr, Watson, Talbot, Keaghan Jacobs, Kyle Jacobs, B Barr, Russell, Deuchar (Winters).