LIVINGSTON coach Roberto Landi today expressed his delight at how his players have coped with a difficult seven days and is urging them to continue that approach tomorrow against First Division newcomers Ross County.
The Lions faced a tricky opening fixture to their league campaign at St Johnstone last week and showed flashes of form in a 2-0 defeat.
Landi paraded five new signings in Perth and it is evident his multi-national squad are still getting to know e
ach other. But their 2-1 CIS Cup victory at a rain-soaked East Stirlingshire on Wednesday will come as a morale boost. The Lions showed heart to go on and win in extra time after having victory snatched away from them with virtually the last kick of the 90 minutes.
Landi said: "I am very happy with the squad and what the team showed at St Johnstone. They are a very strong team who have been together for a long time. But I was happy with the performance.
"We lost out to a goal from a long ball and then later on the penalty. But long ball is not the way I like to play.
"I would like the same performance tomorrow with the determination we showed in midweek."
Landi was today welcoming Celtic midfielder Rocco Quinn to the club. The 21-year-old regularly caught the headlines at St Johnstone last season, where he became an integral part of their midfield and tormented Livingston on his last visit to Almondvale.
His experience of the First Division will be a major asset for Landi, who is hoping to get better news on the bid for Hearts keeper Anthony Basso on Monday.
"We would like three or four new players to complement the squad and give me options," he said. "But I shall know better after the weekend. At the moment there is more talking to be done.
"But with the chairman here, and his staff, I am sure Livingston will be able to enjoy a good season and it will get better as we go on."
Landi has a fully-fit squad available which means Italian striker Raffaele De Vita is in contention for his league debut.
Meanwhile, striker Leigh Griffiths says morale in the squad is high, with the players delighted with training regimes, preparation and support.
"The belief is there," said the Edinburgh teenager. "We spent part of the pre-season together at a hotel, working and getting to know each other and it went well. We are still learning about the way we all play the game, and how to get the best out of each other."
The full article contains 446 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
