David Martindale has warned Livingston not to become a Scottish Cup scalp for Brora Rangers, and says they’ll approach the third-round tie like a Championship game.
While Martindale says anything can happen in a one-off cup tie, and that the title-chasing Highland League side will fancy their chances in West Lothian, a professional performance should see the Lions progress, and wants them to go on a run.
Martindale has done his homework on the Sutherland club and knows what to anticipate, but says all of his focus will be on what Livingston do, in front of their own fans.
He said: “In the Scottish Cup anything can happen in ‘one-off’ games, so we’ll treat it like any other fixture and will worry about Livingston – what we can do, how we’re going to approach the game.
“We’ll obviously analyse the opposition and see what threats they’re going to bring, but it’s more about us, and I don’t mean any disrespect to Brora – that’s how we’ve approached most games this season.
“We look at us, how we’re trying to play, what we’re trying to do, and Saturday will not be any different.
“There are a lot of uncontrollables in football, that’s why everybody loves it, because there are banana skins.
“There are a lot of things in football that are outwith your control. Brora will fancy their chances, they’ll come here and they’ve taken big scalps previously in the Scottish Cup over the years, so they will be difficult, it will not be an easy game.
“I’m under no illusions of that, but it’s one that we’re more than capable of winning.”
Martindale added: “I wouldn’t mind a Scottish Cup run. It has been the one competition from my time at Livingston that I’m probably going to say I feel I’ve under-performed in, that we’ve under-performed in.
“It is a competition that I want to do better in, that we need to do better in.
“We’re in the SPFL Trust Trophy semi-final, still in the Scottish Cup and second in the league, so there is a lot to like about the season – but we can’t let complacency set it.
“We just need to take it one game at a time. I know it’s an opportunity to progress in a cup tie and bring some much-needed income into the club.”
Should he play, midfielder Scott Pittman will clock up his 400th appearance for Livingston, an incredible feat less than 10 years after signing from Bo’ness United for £300,000.
Martindale said: “I can’t ever see that being done again at Livingston. In modern-day football you don’t really get that loyalty with players, players that are going to continuously play 40-odd games a season.
“Pitts is going into his 10th year in February, so that’s 40 games a season, which is a phenomenal stat, and one he should be really proud of.
“Pound for pound, the best signing I’ve ever made. We’ve had some phenomenal signings over the years, but none of them have gone on to play the amount of football wee Pitts has played.
“He’s played 400 games for his local club, and that tells you the story.”
Pittman was due to mark the milestone against Airdrie at New Broomfield last Saturday, but Storm Bert had other ideas.
Martindale said: “I think for the safety of everyone involved I think it was the correct decision.
“It’s another midweek needed, but there are eight of us having to do that, so there’s no real disadvantage. There was only one game played, and I’m fairly comfortable.”