MX23RW : Saturday, July 6 17:01:11| >> :600:1632719:1632719:

Nicky Devlin insists there is no "big overhaul" behind Livingston's revival

Nicky Devlin insists there is no
© Reuters
Livi have won all six matches since David Martindale took over from Gary Holt.

Livingston's turnaround in results has been dramatic since David Martindale took charge but Lions full-back Nicky Devlin claims they have not had to change much.

Livi have won all six matches since Martindale stepped up to take the reins after Gary Holt resigned in the wake of a defeat by St Mirren.

The run has seen the club double their Scottish Premiership points tally and reach the Betfred Cup semi-finals.

But Devlin said ahead of Wednesday's visit of Aberdeen: "We knew there wasn't much we had to change.

"We weren't getting the rub of the green at times and that happens when you are down the bottom, you don't get a decision here or there, or a wee bit of luck.

"The St Mirren game here, they scored from a deflected goal from a corner.

"We knew we didn't have to change much, it wasn't going to take a big overhaul to get us going.

"You have seen that, the performances haven't been too dissimilar to what they were at the start, but now we are picking up points."

Livi's latest win came after a fightback at Kilmarnock on Boxing Day after the hosts took the lead from the spot when Devlin was penalised for handball.

The decision left Devlin rueing the harshness of the recently updated handball rule.

"Kevin Clancy, the referee, said to me it was to do with the new rule," Devlin said.

"It hit my elbow and it probably was stopping the ball from going in, so I don't really think the referee had much choice in the end with the rules the way they are.

"From my point of view, I thought I was less than two yards away from him and I slipped on to the ground, and it wasn't as if I was making myself bigger. My arms were beside my stomach."

Devlin hopes something is done to relax the regulations, saying: "Even if it's just to do with close proximity. (Kirk) Broadfoot was two yards away and hit the ball fairly hard. I couldn't really do much.

"Listen, it didn't really affect us. If anything it probably kicked us on in the end."

ID:428364: cacheID:428364:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3548:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
General view of Almondvale Stadium, home to Livingston, from 2005
Read Next:
Livingston boss David Martindale talks up "fantastic" Aberdeen
>
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Saturday, July 6
 
8pm
Tuesday, July 9
 
8pm
Semi-Finals
Spain
vs.
France
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!