Livingston head for Stenhousemuir on Saturday (15.00) for their final Premier Sports Cup qualifier, and the Almondvale club go in the clash on a high after equalling their highest ever score in an 8-0 victory over Forfar Athletic.
It was also the West Lothian club’s highest ever score at home and Glenn Whelan’s men are unbeaten in regulation time in the group stage following a 2-0 win at Brechin City, a 1-1 draw at home to
Partick Thistle – the Glasgow side won on penalties – and that 8-0 thrashing of Forfar.
Whelan declared that it was a professional performance and he told Livingston TV: “I said to the lads going out to win the game first and foremost but for 90 minutes we were the proper set-up.
“We’ve given Forfar all the credit they deserve, but we put all the work that was necessary to go into the them and we took our chances and created lots of opportunities.”
Whelan rotated his squad as he tried to get to know the players and he added: “We are trying to keep everybody fresh and healthy. It is giving everybody a chance to get out there and show me and the staff what they can do.”
Stenhousemuir are, of course, managed by Marvin Bartley (pictured by Nigel Duncan), who joined the club with his assistant, Neil Hartley, on June 9 after they both left Livingston, and the Central Scotland club drew 2-2 at Thistle on Tuesday in normal time before triumphing 5-3 on penalties .
Thistle currently top Group E with nine points from four outings and that midweek slip could prove costly with Stenny in second spot on eight points from three fixtures.
Livingston are third with seven points from their three games and The Lions could top the group if they win at Ochilview on Saturday. Brechin and Forfar have yet to register a point and are out of the race.
Whelan said: “I am trying to win every game and we’ll give Stenhousemuir the utmost respect.
“They have done really well in a tough away game and at Partick and have come out on top. For us, it is about picking the lads back up, getting them refreshed. We’ll look at Stenhousemuir and pick on their weaknesses.
“It is another game for us and we want to go and win it.”
