Livingston boss David Martindale joked that he’ll need to ban Scott Arfield from the ground after the local lad once again turned the game in his side’s favour as Rangers beat the Lions on the opening day of the Premiership season.
Arfield netted a 72nd minute equaliser against his hometown club after Livi had led since the fifth minute through a delicate Joel Nouble chip over Jon McLaughlin.
Gers skipper James Tavernier sealed the three points with a trademark free-kick barely two minutes after Arfield’s leveller.
The midfielder has now netted three times in his last four appearances against the Lions.
Martindale joked: “He’s banned from Livingston, that boy. As soon as he came on, I said it.
“If they put him on I knew we’d need to watch him. We actually worked on it but his midfield runs are brilliant.
“Honestly, he’s made a career out of it and a very good career, but I think he only does it against Livingston now. I’ll need to try and sign him so he’s not playing against us.
“It’s probably the first time all game that Kent’s put a ball in with his right foot.
“At that point we’re in a transition to change to a 5-4-1 because we needed an extra centre-half in there because they were peppering our goal and we got lucky on a couple of occasions.
“And then Tav does what Tav does for his goal.”
He added: “I feel a wee bit sucker-punched slightly but on possession and chances created, Rangers probably feel they should come away with the three points.
“From my point of view, there’s not many games where we get beat and I’ll praise the players but I think that’s one of these games.
“My boys put everything into the game and our plan was good, they executed it well.
“We were a bit unfortunate to walk away with no points – if we’d got a draw, no one could have grudged us that.”
Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here
