Pass masters Livingston set sights on win at Ayr

LIVINGSTON defender Craig Barr claims that some of the Lions play last Saturday against Raith Rovers was that good even he could enjoy watching it from his position in Livi’s back line, but he insists the players are refocused and ready for a tough trip to take on Ayr United tomorrow.

The West Lothian side romped to a 4-0 win over the Kirkcaldy men in new manager John Hughes’ first game in charge, and the experienced defender says it was great to see the whole side playing high on confidence.

But as the Lions travel to Somerset Park this weekend to take on Brian Reid’s Ayr, Barr is quick to point out that Livi have lots of recent experience of how hard a place it can be to visit.

He said: “It was a really good win last week. I thought we started a wee bit nervously in the first 15 minutes, but that was only to be expected with the first game with a new gaffer and I think he even said he expected that as well.

“After we got into the swing of things I thought we dominated the game, played some really excellent stuff and, if I’m honest, it was even good to be able to watch the boys from the back, knocking the ball about with one-touch passing. We seem to be finishing our chances as well after going through a wee patch where we didn’t do that.”

Livi have travelled to the Ayrshire club’s ground on several occasions in the last two seasons, with the high of a fine 3-0 win just over a year ago tempered with a 3-1 defeat in September 2010 in the same fixture.

“We know exactly what to expect at Somerset,” said Barr. “Over the last couple of years we’ve mixed results there, and this season we had a 0-0 there as well. Hopefully we can carry on from our back-to-back wins. We’ve scored seven goals, conceded only one and hopefully that sort of form can be taken into Saturday.”