Hughes urges young players to learn quickly

Livingston manager John Hughes has told his young players to keep delivering good exciting football, but to learn quickly, as they look to avoid a third straight defeat when they entertain Ayr United tonight.

The Lions defeated Raith Rovers 4-0 in a swashbuckling performance when Hughes first took over from Gary Bollan, but since then they have lost 3-1 to the Honest Men as well as going down 3-2 to Dundee on Saturday.

Hughes said: “The players have been playing good football and I am pleased with that, however they can be a bit naïve at times. They are young, learning all the time and if they believe in the style of play we are using we will get goals and win games.”

Ayr United are again without defenders John Robertson and Martyn Campbell, midfielder Alan Trouten and striker Sean Higgins through injury.

Ross County have the chance to establish a nine-point lead tonight by seeing off Partick Thistle at Victoria Park as they use up one of the two games in hand over their closest rivals Falkirk.

But manager Derek Adams has his feet firmly planted on the ground. He said: “There are still 12 games to go and that is a long, long way. We have a six-point gap just now but we will take things one game at a time and I view it that anything we take from the Partick Thistle game as a bonus.”

The Dingwall men are again without defenders David McNamee and Marc Fitzpatrick. Partick Thistle travel north boosted by a 2-0 success over Hamilton Accies at the weekend that saw them return into fourth place. Winger Chris Erskine should shake off a back knock to feature, but Partick are again without Paul Paton through suspension, with injuries ruling out Darren Cole, Sean welsh and Kris Doolan.