Livingston boss David Martindale says he’s proud of his side’s cup heroics at Premiership Ross County, and told fans to savour moments like those.
Andrew Shinnie’s last-gasp extra-time winner in Dingwall, ending a dramatic 120 minutes in the Highlands and sending Livingston into a last-16 tie at home to League One Cove Rangers on the weekend of February 7.
Livingston had twice been ahead, thanks to a Robbie Muirhead penalty and strike from Cristian Montano, only to be pegged back by Jordan White and Ronan Hale.
But Shinnie’s 119th-minute strike sent the away support into bedlam, and delighted Martindale.
He said: “The players were immense, I’m really proud of them. I think they deserve huge credit.
“They showed a lot of character, and there’s nothing better than grabbing a last-minute winner.
“Ross County are either scoring late against us, or we’re scoring late against them. We’ve had it done to us, as well.
“We don’t have that physicality at the top end of the park to play that longer game, so we had to match them at what they do up here.
“They’re a really difficult team, but we tried to play at times and open the park up.
“Every man, back four all the way through, I thought they were brilliant, and I was delighted for the players.
“I thought we looked the stronger team going into extra-time as well. Ross County threw a lot at it, used all their subs and showed their hand early doors. I thought we made our subs at the right times.”
Martindale added: “We’ve got to get better at sucking up adversity and taking it on the chin, but go and really enjoy moments like that, and hopefully we can bring more moments throughout the season.
“That’s a good group of players in there, and hopefully they, the fans and the staff can try and push us on.
“We’re in a semi-final, in the next round of the Scottish Cup, and we’re not a million miles away in the league.”
While Martindale was looking for a money-spinning tie against Rangers or Celtic, he said before Monday’s draw: “I would just take a winnable tie, anyone at home I think we’ve got a really good chance against.”
Livingston host Hamilton Accies on Saturday at 3pm.