Iain Russell: Winner a huge relief after more Harry Potter woe

Last Sunday’s nail-biting victory down at Berwick put us into the last four of the Ramsdens Cup.

It is such a great achievement for Livingston to be in a semi final, especially considering what the club has been through over the past few years. I have to be honest, had we not progressed, I would have been to blame.

Just 30 seconds into the match, I had a great chance. This was a sign of things to come as chance after chance fell my way. I have been reminded by the boys that I racked up a succession of nine missed opportunities. It was turning into one of those games! I should have realised on Friday that it wasn’t going to be my best weekend. After training on Friday we held our weekly vote on who is the worst trainer. Now personally I thought I had trained pretty well during the week but the rest of the squad thought otherwise. Six of them to be precise. However, since it’s a secret vote I don’t know who they are, but I do have a rough idea.

Gaffer Gary Bollan for some reason always seems to be happy when I receive the vote for worst trainer. He could not hide his delight as he presented me with the yellow bib and the Harry Potter outfit that has to be worn in training the following week. Normally I would see the funny side to this, but this is now the third time in four weeks I have been voted the worst player and it has affected my confidence. I blame my missed chances on Sunday on the six individuals who voted for me on Friday. During Sunday’s game I was grateful to the gaffer for not subbing me as that allowed me to make amends. There is no better feeling in the world than scoring a late winner, especially after I felt I had let the team down all game. And thankfully, given the afternoon I had, I couldn’t miss when young Stefan Scougall put it on a plate for me two yards out!

This week we are back in league business against a young Falkirk side. It should be an exciting game against the free-scoring Bairns. They also find themselves in the Ramsdens Cup semi-final and are currently level with us in the league, so will be full of confidence. The gaffer has made us all aware of the danger they will pose but the game can’t come soon enough. We are relishing the rigours of the First Division and the challenge it poses each week. We are all so hungry to do well and are desperate for the three points this Saturday.