Livingston 2
Ayr United 0
Scottish League Cup (Second Round)


Livingston 

2 - 0

Ayr United


Scottish League Cup (Second Round)
Saturday, August 19th, 2023
Tony Macaroni Arena
Attendance: 1,304


Goalscorers
Nouble (12'),
Montaño (64')
None.

Team Managers
David Martindale Lee Bullen

Starting Eleven
1 George
5 Devlin
6 Obileye
23 De Lucas
29 Penrice
22 Shinnie
18 Holt
3 Montaño
10 Kelly
19 Nouble
28 Guthrie
Robbie Mutch .31
George Stanger .14
Oliver Pendlebury .16
Frankie Musonda .4
Sean McGinty .5
Patrick Reading .3
Mark McKenzie .22
Aiden McGeady .10
Nick McAllister .17
Ahkeem Rose .9
Paul Smith .18

Bench
8 Pittman
9 Anderson
11 Mackay
12 Brandon
14 Welch-Hayes
15 Boyes
16 Bradley
32 Hamilton
40 Lawal
Charlie Albinson .1
Elicha Ahui .38
Dylan Watret .32
Scott Tomlinson .24
Sam Ashford .23
Fraser Bryden .30
Franny Amartey .17
Logan Chalmers .11

Substitutions
None. Logan Chalmers for Aiden McGeady (65)
Franny Amartey for Mark McKenzie (66)
Scott Tomlinson for Oliver Pendlebury (78)
Fraser Bryden for Ahkeem Rose (78)

Cautions
Montaño None.

Red Cards
None. None.

Match Officials

Kevin Clancy (Referee)



Photography by SNS Group

Match Report


Livingston eased aside second-tier visitors Ayr United to reach the Viaplay Cup quarter-finals for the fourth time in five years.

Cristian Montano set up Joel Nouble for a tap-in after 12 minutes before the winger added the second just after the hour mark.

The Premiership side had the lions share of possession and dealt well with any threat that came from the visitors.

Ayr had given a first start to veteran summer signing Aiden McGeady, but they were unable to add another top-flight scalp, having beaten St Johnstone in the group stage.

Nouble looked in the mood from the off and the striker's ball over the top set up James Penrice, but the midfielder could not make contact.

Kurtis Guthrie was involved soon after in neat play with Montano, whose low ball found Nouble to give Livingston the lead.

Ayr began to see more of the ball but it was Livi who extended their lead as Montano latched on to a through ball and, although it looked like goalkeeper Robbie Mutch got a touch to the shot, it rolled over the line.

To Ayr's credit, their heads did not go down and Paddy Reading and Fraser Bryden both had chances.

Montano, though, could have made it more comfortable for the hosts if he had finished off a lovely cut back with 15 minutes to go from Bruce Anderson.

Livingston manager David Martindale: "A clean sheet, two goals and into the hat for the next round - there's not much more you can ask.

"I don't think it was a great game. Ability levels, there was not much between the teams. What I would say is that I thought we had a bit more in offensive areas."

Ayr United manager Lee Bullen: "It's a really well-drilled and oiled machine Davie has here. I think the big difference in the game was in the boxes. They were ruthless in the couple of opportunities and we let opportunities go a-begging.

"What I am pleased about is that we showing a willingness and bravery to pass the ball against Premiership opposition for long spells and that was pleasing for me

Match report written by BBC



Squad Statistics (as at August 19th, 2023)


2023-24 All Time
Age
Robbie Mutch (GK) - 3 - 3 -
Oliver Pendlebury - 5252
George Stanger23 6161
Patrick Reading24 7 - 1183
Sean McGinty30 7 - 844
Frankie Musonda25 3 - 332
Aiden McGeady37 3 - 3 -
Mark McKenzie23 7112110
Nick McAllister22 51512
Ahkeem Rose24 5151
Paul Smith21 5 - 38 -
Scott Tomlinson (sub)18 3 - 4 -
Fraser Bryden (sub)19 73396
Franny Amartey (sub)24 7171
Logan Chalmers (sub)23 1 - 123






League Table (as at August 19th, 2023)


Pld W D L Pts
1. Queen's Park 3 3 0 0 9
2. Dundee United 2 1 1 0 4
3. Raith Rovers 2 1 1 0 4
4. Dunfermline Athletic 2 1 1 0 4
5. Morton 2 1 0 1 3
6. Airdrieonians 2 1 0 1 3
7. Ayr United 2 1 0 1 3
8. Partick Thistle 2 0 1 1 1
9. ICT 2 0 0 2 0
10. Arbroath 3 0 0 3 0