Livingston manager David Martindale believes that his side are in as good a position to take on Rangers as they have been since returning to the top flight, writes Angus McGregor.
The West Lothian side travel to Ibrox tomorrow looking to cause an upset, having already provided a bit of a scare for their opponents already this season when they took the lead before going down 2-1 at home in the season opener.
"In terms of depth, knowledge and understanding of playing at places like Ibrox, we are better placed to take them on than the past” stated Martindale. “I think with the squad we have now, we have 23 or 24 players who can play in the Premiership”.
This season makes it the fifth in a row that Livingston have been in the Scottish Premiership, with the Lions travelling to Ibrox eight times in the past four years. They have proved to be difficult customers to the Glasgow side, despite being unable to take any points.
The Rangers team was met with boos following their 1-0 victory at home to Championship side Dundee in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final in midweek, with fans unimpressed by the performance. Although not a big part of his game plan, Martindale is keen to try and create a similar atmosphere this weekend.
He said: "You want to frustrate the fans when you play the Old Firm. When you go to Parkhead and Ibrox, the fans are demanding but they get frustrated fairly easily. Even Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts are the same but the Old Firm have the bigger numbers.
"If 25 per cent of the crowd are booing you hear it more than other places. It’s not in the game plan but you want to hear it in the opposition dugout."
It was revealed during the week that former Celtic and Hibernian midfielder Dylan McGeouch had been training with the club and Martindale admitted that financially the club aren’t able to offer the player a deal but are allowing the free agent to use the facilities to get back to full fitness.
He commented: "We can’t offer anything to Dylan at this time. If I can help a player I will, I have done it with Leigh and now Dylan. There’s nothing on the table but if I can help him get a club then great. You never say never though”.
Martindale mentioned how the club had been helping former striker Leigh Griffiths do the same, whilst the signing of Jason Holt back in 2020 came around in a similar circumstance.
The Livingston manager admitted that the player is somebody he has great admiration for, adding: "He’s my type of player, he’s very good technically and he was part of a successful Hibs team. He has been unlucky with injuries but he has been training and it looks like that is in the past”.
Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here
