Lions may be bottom of league but Jambos taking nothing for granted
Before their final pre-split match at Tynecastle on Saturday, Hearts manager Steven Naismith maintains that lowly Livingston are by no means a hopeless situation.
With six games left, the Jambos lead Kilmarnock by 11 points in the Premiership, while the Lions sit in last place, nine points behind Ross County, and their place in the top division is in jeopardy. Naismith, though, will admire David Martindale’s side no end.
“It’s true that Livingston is fighting at the bottom of the standings, but they haven’t given up hope,” Naismith remarked, adding that captain and leading scorer Lawrence Shankland has made a full recovery from his sickness. “I haven’t had the impression from observing them that they are expected to lose or are giving up the fight.
“The Aberdeen game last week (0-0) was the same, but they’ve always demonstrated that they pose a threat and that some of their players are dangerous players in previous contests. Yes, we will try to break them down when we have the ball, but this season it has been more often than in past years. We are therefore at ease in that environment, but we still need to play well and take use of our opportunities. Winning that game will get us one step closer to finishing third and, for the individual, earning a spot in the semifinals.
Regarding that cup, Naismith restated CEO Andrew McKinlay’s exhortation to fans to purchase Scottish Cup tickets or else they run the risk of not receiving equal distributions once more. For their semi-final matchup against Rangers at Hampden on April 21, the Gorgie club was given an initial allotment of 20,000 each, according to their statement.
“I hope we can sell them all and the fans like what we’ve done this season,” Naismith stated. “Over the past five or six years, I believe there has been a significant advancement within the club. We regularly sell out for our travelling support, which is one area of the club where I believe we are about to take things to the next level.
“I hope we can sell them all and the fans like what we’ve done this season,” Naismith stated. “Over the past five or six years, I believe there has been a significant advancement within the club. We regularly sell out for our travelling support, which is one area of the club where I believe we are about to take things to the next level.
When the semi-finals roll around, you want to sell out and ask for a substantial portion. While few Scottish clubs would accept 16,500–17,000, is it possible to surpass the threshold? As a team, you want to see a full stadium, and the club had to work hard to get it (an equal split). As a result, you can lose it in the future. We hope to sell out and have a terrific day when everyone shows up to advance to the final, as we have had fantastic support throughout the season.
Jason Holt, meanwhile, is aware of Livingston’s dangerous situation and will not give up hope even though there is still a chance of survival. The former Hearts player stated, “We are hoping the point against Aberdeen can prove to be a big one.” “We know we have a ways to go before we catch up to Ross County, but with the games we have, we can still make progress in that direction, so we keep trying to make up ground.”
