Falkirk vs Livingston preview - Dods blow for Bairns

Falkirk will again be without injured captain Darren Dods as they look to see off the challenge of visitors Livingston.

The Bairns will be hoping to to bounce back from Thursday night's 3-0 defeat from Rangers in the Scottish Communities League Cup and technical director Alex Smith is looking for a response.

Smith said: "This is a very different game to the one at Ibrox as we are coming across a side that like us plays with a lot of young players as opposed to a lot of internationals.

"Their manager John Hughes also wants them to play in a style that deserves to be commended but this game will be decided by what we do.

"The players need to bounce back from losing to Rangers and they will, as they put everything into the game we asked for."

Livingston are again without the injured trio of Jason Talbot, Liam Fox and Keaghan Jacobs as manager John Hughes returns to the club he took to the SPL in 2005.

The Lions saw off Dumbarton 3-2 in extra time in the Scottish Communities League Cup on Tuesday with Hughes looking for his youngsters to keep their progress going by grabbing their first three-point of the season.

Hughes said: "We had a really young side out in midweek and they did fantastically well. We just need to add a bit more passing and crossing to our game and we will do okay.

"Our play is progressing and it would be good to start turning that into wins as that is what ultimately decides your season."