Lovell believes substitutions made all the difference

BY GRAEME CROSER AT ALMONDVALE

STUART LOVELL today credited Livingston’s three substitutes for turning around the side’s fortunes against Hearts.

With their side a goal down and struggling to make any impact on the game, the Lions management duo of Jim Leishman and Davie Hay withdrew Gus Bahoken and Eugene Dadi at half-time.

On came Rubio and Davide Xausa and the duo’s impact was immediate. All of a sudden a sense of purpose had been installed in the team and the further introduction of Colin McMenamin for Roly Zarate added yet more verve to the attack.

Rubio’s contribution was the most obviously telling, the Spanish defender heading home the equaliser from a fine Lee Makel corner just after the hour mark, but the two forwards were just as important.

Dadi and Zarate do not always seem to expend maximum effort when not in possession and for the first 45 minutes the Jambos defenders were able to take time on the ball and build their team’s play from the back without fear of being closed down.

The arrival of Xausa changed that, as the Canadian is willing to graft and press the ball. Hearts’ back four didn’t look as comfortable after the 26-year-old appeared and McMenamin made life less easy still later on.

It’s no coincidence that both bookings picked up by the home side went to the two replacement strikers, but their eagerness to scrap is something the Almondvale men will need if they are to avoid the ignominy of finishing bottom of the Premierleague.

And skipper Lovell, who was awarded the man of the match by the game’s sponsors, was happy to pass on the credit for the gaining of a valuable point.

He said: "I think the substitutions really helped us turn the game round. With Rubio on we changed formation to a three at the back but I think the change in personnel was more important than the formation.

"In addition to his goal Rubio kept things tight and we looked stronger at the back for his presence. The two boys up front were also important because they ensured Steven Pressley and Andy Webster did not have quite so much time on the ball.

"They weren’t able to pick their passes and that made it harder for Hearts to build their play.

"What is said in the dressing-room should stay there, but it’s fair to say the issue of the front players closing down the opposition was discussed.

"Hearts had Kevin Mckenna and Gary Wales up front and in the first half in particular they really hustled and harried our defenders.

"They got their goal from a sloppy defensive error on our part, but you always stand more of a chance of getting a break if you pressurise the opposing defence.

"Davide Xausa has a physical presence and he made a difference and, while Colin McMenamin is not quite so strong he is prepared to scrap as well. They started doing to the Hearts back four what Wales and Mckenna had been doing to our defenders and I think that told in the end."

After the midweek stalemate at Dundee, Saturday’s draw was the Lions’ second point in a row, results which followed on the back of two narrow defeats to the Old Firm.

Given the fight shown in those matches and the latter part of the Hearts game the West Lothian men would seem to be moving in the right direction.

But with relegation still a possibility, next week’s trip to second-bottom Dundee United is of massive importance.

Midfielder Lovell, who is edging closer to full fitness with every passing game, agrees that there have been some positive signs of late, but knows the results need to improve.

He said: "I suppose it’s good to be able to say we’ve avoided defeat in the last two games but to be perfectly honest I’d rather have won one and lost the other than drawn both.

"We’d have got more points that way and really that’s what matters just now."

Taken from the Scotsman