No let-up for
Livi as Evans expects tough run to go on

LIVINGSTON manager Gareth 
Evans admits his side has come through what, on paper, appeared one of their hardest runs of the season – but insists the trips to Dumbarton and Cowdenbeath in the coming weeks will be just as tough.

The Lions travel to the Bet Butler Stadium to take on 
bottom side Dumbarton 
tomorrow, looking to extend the good form that has seen them lose just once in eight league games.

That’s a run in which Livi have faced Falkirk, leaders Partick Thistle, and defeated second top Dunfermline in West Lothian last weekend.

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Their only defeat in those eight matches came against the pacesetters at Firhill, while the side also lost out on Scottish Cup duty to SPL opponents Dundee.

Evans said last weekend’s home win against the Pars went some way to righting a 4-0 thumping at East End Park earlier in the season, and that after seeing their opponents go down to ten men his side showed a maturity to get them through.

He said: “We were disappointed with the loss at Dunfermline and a big part of our motivation last week was trying to amend that.

“The [opening] goal when it came was a relief with the chances we’d missed previously, but I was delighted.

“Especially against a team of Dunfermline’s calibre, they’re not up there near the top of the league for no reason. Against ten men can be tricky, but I thought we were patient.”

Livi now turn their attention to back-to-back away games as they look to establish their place in the top half of the First Division table.

Tomorrow they come up against a Dumbarton side stranded at the bottom of the standings on just five points. Ian Murray joined the Sons as their new boss just a few weeks ago, but is yet to taste success in the job.

Despite that, Evans insists Saturday will pose as tough a challenge as anything they’ve faced in recent weeks.

He added: “The last four games have been particularly tough, and though every game’s tough the last four have been really hard ones. But it’ll be the same at Dumbarton and then Cowdenbeath.”