Russell helps Lions end barren run

Published on 12/03/2012 12:09

IAIN RUSSELL grabbed his first league goal in almost five months as the Livingston striker helped his side to a 3-1 win at old club Greenock Morton.

After three defeats in a row, John Hughes’s outfit clinically swept the hosts aside with Marc McNulty, Russell and Craig Barr finding the net, despite Peter McDonald equalising for the home team midway through the first half.

While Russell was delighted to be back amongst the goals, he insisted the win was the big thing for the Lions after playing some great stuff without picking up their rewards in recent weeks.

The striker, who has been out for a long spell this term recovering from shin splints, said: “I’m delighted, it’s been a tough few months for me, so to get back on the score sheet was great. It was my first start under the new management so I was just trying my best to impress and work hard for the team to get the three points.

“To get the start always gives you a bit of confidence. Training’s been excellent and I’ve felt really sharp. Since the two Johns [John Hughes and John Collins] have come in we’ve played some really good stuff, but the results haven’t gone for us in all of those games even when we’ve played well. It wasn’t maybe quite the performance that we’ve shown in recent weeks, but we got the three points which was the most important thing today.

“I think we have a lot of fighters and winners in the team.

“We showed a lot of fight, it’s always a hard place to come Cappielow so it was good to get the win.”

Livi threatened to put the match beyond Morton in the opening minutes, as debutant Michael Scott forced home goalkeeper Colin Stewart into a fine save before Bobby Barr fed McNulty and he rounded Stewart to put the Lions one up.

Allan Moore’s side equalised on 22 minutes, however, as Peter McDonald powered a low header beyond Andy McNeil from Paul Di Giacomo’s cross.

Russell pounced on a low ball across the six yard box four minutes before the break to send Livi back into the lead, and only six minutes into the second half Craig Barr headed home Jason Talbot’s cross to make it three and seal the points.