Partick Thistle v Livingston: Lions will look to capitalise on any Jags fatigue in play-off semi-final, says Martindale
It is a huge night for Livingston has they begin their quest in the Premiership play-offs
David Martindale is looking for Livingston to capitalise on any Partick Thistle fatigue in their Premiership play-off semi-final tonight.
Livi's Championship season ended with a 1-0 defeat at home to the Jags which took the Maryhill side into the play-offs, where they overcame Ayr 2-1 aggregate in the quarter-finals following a 2-0 win at Somerset Park on Friday night.
Ahead of the first leg against Thistle in Maryhill on Tuesday night, Lions boss Martindale said: "I'll be really, really honest, I think there's a lot been taken out of them over the last three games in terms of Friday, Tuesday, Friday.
"So we've got a wee bit of an advantage going into the game in terms of intensity and tempo.
"They've put a lot into their last few games. We have just played one another so this is the fifth game this season, the third time at Partick.
"So I'm probably more focused on ourselves and our group and how we're going to approach the game rather than focusing too much on the opposition.
"Anybody can come through the tie. We'll probably going into the tie as favourites, but I don't think any anyone would be surprised if Partick progressed to next round.
"It is going to be a really, really hard game, but it's just about the next game, go and win the next game of football and that's Tuesday night."
Martindale noted it was Thistle's 37-year-old striker Brian Graham, who is also joint interim manager of the Glasgow side, who scored twice in Ayrshire to overcome the 1-0 defeat in the first leg.
He said: "He's been fairly successful this season. I think he scored one at Partick the last time we were there (a 1-1 draw in February), but he's been phenomenal, hasn't he?
"Top scorer in the league games. He's kind of dragged them through a couple of games with his goals.
"But we played them most recently, so I'm confident of our game plan going into it."
Tonight's clash is a 7.45pm kick-off and the game is being shown live on the BBC Scotland channel.
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