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Livingston decide against appealing Montano red card

Livingston boss Marvin Bartley says they have decided not to appeal the red card showing to defender Cristiano Montano that was issued during the 2-2 draw with Rangers on Sunday.

Livingston were two goals up when Montano was issued a red card by referee Ryan Lee for a late challenge Rangers winger Djeidi Gassama when he was straight in on goal.

Bartley says he was really happy with the performance of his players but there were certain areas they must improve on to try and maintain their place in the Premiership.

"I think it's a simple one," he said. "He's the last man, denying obviously a goal scoring opportunity.

"We understand it's a red card, there's no point appealing that. He'll serve a suspension on Saturday.

"We defended our box extremely well. I thought they put a lot of balls into the box, but one of the things I've been massive on is controlling where that ball goes. And the way that we've worked that, the players have managed to take that on board.

"And I think you saw on Sunday, they defended a lot of those balls into kind of dangerous areas because they could anticipate where it was going. It's no longer kind of guesswork for them.

"Things we could have done better, at times we could have turned the ball over and been a little bit braver. I was very, very happy with the two goals that we did manage to get and the way that they did come. But I thought at certain other times, yeah, we could have been brave on the counter-attack.

"But again, listen, my players gave me absolutely everything. I always say exactly the same thing, but that's probably one of the things that we could have improved on. Although they did do it really, really well in the game."

With Livingston currently eight points adrift at the bottom Bartley says only a similar performance and application from the players from now until the end of the season will be good enough to avoid the drop.

"We have to do it again on Saturday and in every game. I expect it in every game. It's not one of those things that you play Celtic or Rangers and all of a sudden you're really up for it.

"And you're willing to defend and you're willing to attack and work hard. That has to be what we do every single game. If you don't do that, you won't play in a limited team under me."

[BBC]

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