Livingston vs Greenock Morton preview - Lions turn to youth for Morton visit

Posted Saturday, April 20, 2013 by PA

Ross Docherty is suspended for the visit of Morton following his sending-off in Livingston's goalless draw against Hamilton in midweek.

The Lions will also be without Stefan Scougall (hamstring), Kyle Jacobs (ankle), Keaghan Jacobs (knee), Burton O'Brien (groin) and Marc McNulty (hamstring), forcing manager Richie Burke to dip into the club's youth team for players.

Third-placed Livingston are 15 points adrift of second-placed Morton, who know they must win each of their remaining three fixtures by a handsome margin to have any mathematical chance of catching runaway First Division leaders Partick.

Burke said: "We will have to go with some of our younger lads and if they do as well as Coll Donaldson has since he stepped up then they we will do well. It is a great opportunity for them to test themselves against an experienced Morton team.

"Morton will be hurting after losing to Partick and then Dunfermline so we have to be ready for the backlash."

Martin Hardie and Kevin Rutkiewicz return after injury for Morton with manager Allan Moore demanding an improvement from his men after last weekend's 1-0 defeat to struggling Dunfermline.

Peter MacDonald is expected to shake off a knock to be available, however Michael Tidser's groin injury and Stephen Stirling's broken leg keep them sidelined.

Moore said: "Losing last Saturday in the manner we did was disappointing and I want a more energised performance at Livingston.

"We are disappointed not to have maintained our title challenge however we should be proud of how much we have improved this season and look to finish on a high.

"The players had been great all season but were way off last week, however they have the chance to put that right at Livingston."