Iain Russell: Kyle’s goal even beats winning at ping-pong

Nothing in football beats a 90th-minute winner.

Last Saturday’s victory against Partick Thistle was a terrific three points for Livingston. For much of the game, the Jags had the majority of possession and we found it difficult to play our passing style due to being closed down extremely well.

While we were poor on the day, that was as much down the industrious Thistle side who never gave us a minute on the ball.

Jackie McNamara and his squad can feel hard done by having taken nothing from this match. However, as a team we never gave up hope of winning and, after recent events, we were due a rub of the green.

In previous matches this season, we have played far better than Saturday and either lost or drawn having felt we didn’t get our just rewards. Match-winner Kyle Jacobs will probably never score a better goal. It was fit to win any match and you could tell by our celebrations what it meant to us all.

This was his second goal in two weeks after scoring a header against Ross County. After reading his quotes about his heading ability in I wonder what he is going to say this week after such a tremendous strike.

Young Kyle is an exciting talent and has a wonderful future – hard working, a good passer and always willing to learn, he could be the next Livingston youth product to play in England’s Premier League.

The boys have been on a high this week and I am not totally convinced it is just down to Saturday. Yes, we are all buzzing after picking up maximum points in such dramatic fashion but also about our newest signing. Last week, the team bought a table-tennis table for the dressing-room. I have never seen the boys more excited about anything. If you thought we looked excitable with our goal celebrations on Saturday then you should see the boys before our daily tournaments.

Although they’re not very good, the manager and assistant are even involved and are always first into the stadium in the mornings to get in some sneaky practice sessions.

Each player has their own entrance song before their respective matches and, although all a bit of fun, certain boys have been taking it very, very seriously.

Aside from the table tennis we’ve had a good week in training and are fully focused on our match this weekend.

Our opponents Raith Rovers have kept the majority of their promotion-challenging team from last season. They narrowly missed out on reaching the SPL and, although nobody tipped them at the start of the season, they pushed Dunfermline all the way. John McGlynn’s side will be looking to go one better this year and are renowned for making it hard for the opposition to break them down.

Saturday’s match will be a good indicator for Livi. It will enable us to see how far we have progressed against one of last season’s best First Division sides. Although we have a small, youthful squad, the boys are proving they are more than capable of competing in this league and we hope to continue to do so.