Livingston boss David Martindale says guarding against complacency is important as they host Cove Rangers in the Scottish Cup fifth round on Saturday.
Martindale’s side go into the last-16 clash against Paul Hartley’s League One high-fliers on the back of a crucial 2-1 win at Falkirk on Friday night, which knocked them off the top of the Championship.
That leaves Livingston third, two points behind new leaders Ayr United, and one behind Falkirk, who have a game in hand.
Having come through that game on Friday and Wednesday night’s SPFL Trust Trophy semi-final at Dunfermline, Martindale will make changes.
Martindale was also able to strengthen with the addition last week of goalkeeper Jack Hamilton, who returns to the club for a second spell, having left for Ross County in July.
Heading in the opposite direction were young defender Codi Stark, who is on loan at Bo’ness Athletic for the rest of this season, and midfielder Olly Green, who has joined National League side Boston United on a permanent deal, having joined from Hull City in the summer.
On Saturday’s cup clash at Almondvale, Martindale said: “We have a huge game on Saturday, and it’s important. It’s my job to make sure we don’t become complacent.
“[On Friday night] we were missing a few players, like Scott Pittman and Stephen Kelly, but look at the boys that came on.
“I think we’ve got a really competitive squad, wee Macaulay Tait and Reece McAlear had fantastic games.
“We’ve got good numbers of boys that never made the squad [for Friday]. I’ll use Liam Sole as an example, he has been out injured for three or four weeks, and will have an opportunity to come into the matchday squad.”
Martindale was pleased to bring in 30-year-old Hamilton, but also to let Stark and Green head out and get valuable game-tine.
On Green, who featured only eight times, Martindale said: “Our midfield is arguably the strongest area in terms of the players we have within the squad, and resultantly, Olly’s time has been limited.
“Olly and I spoke about this, and both felt it was imperative that, at this stage in his development, he went out and got game time.
“Ideally, a loan move would have been a good option for the club, but a transfer for Boston was the best option for the player, and he was keen to get back to England and continue his development there.
“He goes with all of our best wishes as he was a genuinely great lad around the place, and his potential is there for all to see.”
Winger Meshack Ubochioma and defender Robbie Fraser will come back into Livingston’s squad for the visit of Cove Rangers, having been cup-tied in last night’s SPFL Trust Trophy semi-final at Dunfermline.
Livingston have won their last four games on the bounce, seeing off Airdrie, Hamilton and Falkirk in the league, while knocking Premiership side Ross County out of the Scottish Cup fourth round.
That followed a run of three straight defeats against Queen’s Park, Raith Rovers and Ayr United, and Martindale warns that similarly tough periods could happen again.
He said: “I think it was disappointing but we were probably the better team at the Ayr game. Raith we got sucker punched early on and Queen’s Park was a disappointing performance.
“You’re going to go through periods of adversity. I hope I’m wrong, but no doubt we’ll go through that again at some stage, and it’s just important to focus on the next game and try and win it.”