LYNDON DYKES insists Livingston won’t change their robust approach after a bruising cup encounter with Rangers.

Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard was furious with the crude challenge from Ricki Lamie that left midfielder Joe Aribo requiring 20 stitches in a nasty head wound.

Livingston put themselves about as they went down fighting in the Betfred Cup and striker Dykes will brush off any criticism of their physical style.

He said: “You do not want to make it easy for teams. When they come up against us they need to know it is going to be a battle. But I think we have a lot of quality in the team as well, when we go forward we do play.

“We have surprised a lot of people this season. It is just the start, we can improve. It is one of those things where we work hard and fight together and we go and win games.

“I do not care what people think. We just do what we are good at and try and get results.

“I didn’t really see [the Lamie challenge]. I saw the blood coming out so obviously he did connect. He was looking at the ball and connected with him.

“But it is one of those things in football. It is a physical game. He doesn't mean to go in and elbow him so I think it is a yellow.

“Luckily enough it was not a serious injury, so it was one of those things.”

Livingston believed Rangers should have been reduced to ten men when Filip Helander fouled Dykes in the second half.

But the striker reckons the decision didn’t cost Gary Holt’s side in a 1-0 defeat thanks to Glen Kamara’s early effort.

He said: “I thought it was one of those ones where we were unlucky again.

“But we cannot keep giving away cheap goals against good teams. I think the boys should keep their heads high before going into the next game.

“When you play good teams you need to be scoring every opportunity you get and not conceding. I thought the boys were excellent, a few things were unlucky but it was one of those things. We need to lift our heads and go again on Saturday.

“Personally I thought it was a red card. I thought I nicked the ball out. The ref told me at half time it was a red.

“But it is one of those things. It’s part of the game where refs get things wrong and you cannot do anything about it.

“You have to get on with It. We had chances after that. It is not like we lost just because of that but it would have changed the game a lot. It is what happens in football.”