Patient Rory gets chance to shine

LIVINGSTON striker Rory Boulding has had to wait patiently for his chance under the new management team of John Hughes and John Collins, but the forward was delighted to celebrate his first start under the new Livi gaffer with two goals last week at Falkirk.

As the Lions prepare to travel to Firhill to take on Partick Thistle tomorrow, Boulding says the players can take confidence from travelling to one of the league’s top teams and scoring five, while dealing with a long list of injuries and suspensions.

The Englishman is hoping the side can continue that sort of form in Glasgow tomorrow, with six points picked up from a possible nine this season so far against Jackie McNamara’s side.

Boulding said: “It was great to get my first start under the new management team, and to do well along with that and show them what I can offer was really pleasing.

“Obviously Falkirk are one of the better teams in the league and we had quite a lot of key players out, so it was an even better result from that point of view. I missed out last time we played Thistle as I was suspended after my red card against County, but whatever team the manager selects, as long as everyone gives 100 per cent then I think we should have enough to get the result.”

And he added: “Obviously we beat them 3-1 here a few weeks back, but it’ll be a very different game away from home. Hopefully we’ll get a similar result.”

The win last week moved the Lions within only six points of Falkirk in third and eight points clear of Raith Rovers in the relegation play-off spot, with much still up for grabs in the incredibly tight league table.

The match also pulled Livi level on points with Thistle, with the winner of tomorrow’s game moving into fifth place in the division. And Boulding reckons if the players continue to apply themselves as they have been doing, the side will finish the season strongly and well placed in the league standings.

The front-man concluded “We’re taking every game as it comes now, and giving everything in each individual game, and if we do that then our position in the table will take care of itself.”

n Livi have signed former Hibs full back Kevin McCann until the end of the season.