CRAIG Sibbald does not disagree with Gary Holt, his manager, that it was a mistake to give his Livingston squad a four-day break from football during the previous Premiership interruption for international football in November.
Holt has gone on record to question that decision, given that it disrupted the momentum of his brave outfit from which they struggled to recover.
There will be no such Livi largess this time round, however, especially as the appropriately-named Lions have rediscovered their mojo with a decisive win over St Johnstone followed by a courageous draw against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
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Sibbald, a midfield terrier who has performed well since his summer arrival from Falkirk, has scored in both these fixtures, his 43rd-minute tap-in from team-mate Craig Halket’s ferocious shot enough to secure a point following Niall McGinn’s eye-catching opener for the hosts.
The overall performance was deserving of a few days off, but Sibbald revealed that, if anything, “we’re in more than usual”.
“We are happy to try and keep the form going,” he insisted, “and not to try and change things too much because we have a big game against Hibs a week on Friday, March 29.
“We will see if it is better this time because we want to come back, keep going and to pick up points.
“We finally got points off Aberdeen, the only team we hadn’t taken points off. So, it was good to get this result and, of course, another goal.
“We were saying in the changing room that is a great achievement and it is well done to all the boys. We all put a good shift in and deserved the point.”
The last nine home games have yielded just one win for the Dons, but Max Lowe, their left-back who’s on loan from Derby County, still believes that Rangers, eight points ahead in second place in the Premiership, can be caught.
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In the meantime, however, rest is a priority for a team which has had a heavy schedule since the beginning of December as well as self-analysis all round.
"We struggled to find a way through in the second half against Livingston,” Lowe said. “There weren't a lot of chances where I thought we should have scored.
“As a back four we were forcing it too much, looking for Stevie May in behind. The final pass wasn't there and it seemed to be a common theme when we were chasing the game.
"During the international break, we'll be able to look at each game, see what I could have done better, and wish the lads that go away with the Scotland squad good luck.
“For me, consistency is the main thing as a defender. The gaffer can trust you. That's the main thing I need to look at.
“I'm going to look back at this game but I need to get it out of my head by the time we come back from the break.”
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