Latest news with #JeremyBokila
Edinburgh Reporter
a day ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Martindale: ‘Bokila adds variation to the squad'
Jeremy Bokila made an immediate impact in the 31 minutes he was on the pitch for Livingston in their 3-1 victory over Falkirk, producing a sensational finish to finally kill off the challenge of the Central Scotland team. David Martindale, Livingston's manager, said the goal after 88 minutes by the 36-year-old was a special finish from a player the club secured after watching him in action in their pre-season training camp in Holland. The Livi boss said: 'The big man has come in, he has played top tier (football) in The Netherlands last year and one of his main attributes is that he is quite physical. 'I felt he got a wee bit of a shock as I felt Falkirk's back three were really physical, but his finish was incredible, it was a great finish.' Martindale said he received a tip off about the player from a contact with a deep knowledge of European football and he 'had a wee look'. The manager was not sure, but the opportunity came to see Bokila in the flesh at the club's training camp in Holland pre-season. He added: 'It shows how humble he is that he came in. He got a wee look at me and I got a wee look at him and he played 60 minutes (in a bounce game) and I felt he could do a job for us. 'He is different from Robbie Muirhead, he is different from Zak Rudden but I feel you need that variation and that squad depth if you are to be successful in the Premiership.' Danny Wilson, Graham Carey and Adam Montgomery were injured against Falkirk and medical reports are awaited but because of the physicality of the Premiership, Martindale believes he will have to run with a squad depth of 25 not 23 as he has historically. Looking back at the welcome William Hill Premiership win, he said, his squad controlled aspects of the game, their press was good but, when the ball came into the final third, he felt his defence was 'brilliant'. He also felt The Lions also looked dangerous on the counter-attack, and he added: 'The players should take a lot of credit.' Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Bokila nets as Lions roar to victory
Much-travelled Jeremy Bokila was the toast of fans at the Home of the Set Fare Arena with a late goal which wrapped up a first William Hill Premiership win of the season for Livingston and confirmed the West Lothian club's recent dominance over their Central Scotland near neighbours. The 36-year-old Congolese striker, who joined the Scots from Dutch club, Willem II, Tilburg, after training with the Livingston squad during their pre-season camp, lashed the ball home, giving Bairns goalkeeper, Scott Bain, no chance. His strike two minutes from time secured the three points and temporarily lifted Livingston into top spot in the 12-strong table, a lofty perch, but this is early in the season and other clubs have yet to play their second games. However, Livingston are on four points after an opening day, 2-2 draw, at Kilmarnock, but nobody in the former New Town is getting carried away as they now face a tough run of fixtures in all competitions with Hibs, Celtic, Hearts, Aberdeen and Rangers looming. Earlier, a gusty wind, which some feared would spoil the game, buffeted the Home of the Set Fare Arena before kick-off, but it was the visitors who threatened to blow The Lions away in the first 19 minutes. They were on the front foot early, forcing Livingston goalkeeper Jerome Prior, to save low down after a neat move involving Ethan Ross and Ross MacIver in the opening minutes. Calvin Miller then threatened down the right, but the danger was cleared, however the eager Bairns won second balls and forced the pace. A free-kick, awarded when Graham Carey brought down Bradley Spencer, resulted in Ross threatening with a close-in header. Livingston responded and Lewis Smith won the ball in the right. Robbie Muirhead challenged, but the danger was cleared. At the other end, MacIver saw a header saved by Prior who had to catch a cross before reacting to a Macaulay Tait shot. It was all Falkirk and Livi were struggling to get out of their own territory. The home side's boss, David Martindale, was clearly unhappy, waving his arms in frustration and shouting instructions from the home dugout, and the Livi boss was forced into a change when experienced defender, Danny Wilson, was forced to leave the field after 14 minutes. Shane Blaney replaced him. Another corner for The Bairns was wasted as Livingston continued to struggle to find any rhythm, but the game changed suddenly following a breakaway after 19 minutes. Smith picked up a loose ball, drove forward, fed Muirhead who squared for Scott Pittman who found himself in space on the edge of the six-yard box and he finished clinically as he closes in on the club's all-time scoring record. It was Livingston's first real attack. Falkirk boss John McGlynn was also forced into an early change when Ross went down. Alfredo Agyeman was introduced, but the loss of the goal rocked the Bairns who were roared on by a large travelling support. Livi, however, became dominant and made that count with a second three minutes into injury time. Goalkeeper Prior started the move and it was continued by busy Tait, on loan from Hearts, who found Smith with a diagonal ball to his right. The former Hamilton Academical player cut inside and sent a left foot curler into the top corner. Bain had no chance and it was a superb strike. The home fans were on their feet. It was the same pattern at the start of the second-half when Livi threatened again. Tait had an opportunity to break but the move was blocked, however the ball was recycled to Muirhead who let fly from 25 yards. The ball flew inches over. There was then a VAR check on possible hand ball by Liam Henderson and the referee was eventually called to the monitor before awarding a penalty. Muirhead stepped up and fired for the bottom left hand corner but Falkirk goalkeeper, Scott Bain, guessed correctly and saved low down. Bairns fans celebrated and hoped that would spark a comeback. Livingston, however, continued to press and Smith was again involved, curving a left foot shot just wide, and it was obviously not Falkirk's day as a threatening header inside the box hit one of their own men and was cleared. Then came a breakaway and Tait sped down left wing, swung over a cross which was miskicked by a defender and flew agonisingly for home fans just over the crossbar. However, Falkirk began to get a foothold and first-half substitute Agyeman broke down the right and his cross threatened, but Falkirk failed to capitalise once again. It was a sign that things were turning and that move injected some urgency from the visitors. A VAR check was needed after a foul but it judged to be just outside the box, only by inches. The ball was launched into the box by Calvin Miller and MacIver headed home neatly to give McGlynn's men some hope of salvaging something from the game. A VAR check confirmed the goal after 74 minutes. There was still time. The visitors powered forward and another free-kick flew high into the home box but nobody was there to take advantage and Livingston were undoubtedly on the back foot, battling to preserve their slender advantage. Desperate defending saw the West Lothian combine kicking the ball away on several occasions to eat up time, and the home fans were tense, but all the anxiety was extinguished when Bokila found himself in acres of space on the left. He drove towards goal, probably surprised that he had so much space, and, from angle on the left, slammed home with left foot after a slick pass down the line from substitute Christian Montano had caught most of the Falkirk side up-field. Time 88 minutes. The fourth official signalled eight minutes of stoppage time, but a large percentage of Bairns fans had left the building and it was no surprise when Martindale expressed himself happy with his day at the office. He said: 'I thought it was a professional performance and there were a lot of pleasing aspects.' His opposite number, John McGlynn (pictured by Nigel Duncan), said he thought his men started well, but we lost our way. We have to stick together.' Livingston: Prior, Montgomery (Montano 45, he was booked), McGowan, Pittman, Muirhead (booked) (Bokila 67), Carey (booked) (Sylla 37), Smith (Yengi 67), Winter, Tait, Wilson (Blaney 14), Lawal. Substitutes: Hamilton, Blaney, May, Bokila, Shinnie, Sylla, Montano, Culbert, Yengi Falkirk: Bain, Adams, McCann, Henderson (booked), Spencer (booked), MacIver (Arfield 76), Nesbitt (Graham 45), Neilson, Tait, Ross (Agyeman 26), Miller. Substitutes: Hogarth, Graham, Agyeman, Cartwright, Oliver, Allan, Mackie, Walker, Arfield. Referee: Chris Graham Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Livingston 3 Falkirk 1: African stars Bokila and Lawal delight Martindale in win
The Lions gaffer heaped praise on Jeremy Bokila and Samson Lawal as Livi stayed unbeaten on their Premiership return By Ian Steven Livingston maintained their unbeaten start to the 2025/26 league campaign with a tempestuous victory over fierce rivals Falkirk, but it was the unearthing on a two new talents in gold and black that delighted manager Davie Martindale the most, with African stars Jeremy Bokila and Samson Lawal being highlighted with the same pride usually reserved for a delighted parent. 'I gained a player today,' exclaimed the gaffer in reference to the league debut of Nigeran full back Samson Lawal who filled in at right back due to an injury to Daniel Finlayson. 'I think it's important that I mention wee Sammy at right back. I don't think a lot of you guys would know who he was. Sammy's been at a club, he's in his fourth year. We signed him for Nigeria. He was in an academy in Nigeria. It's amateur status, but when I signed him, he'd just played something along the lines of eight games for the Nigeria Under-20s at the World Cup. Got to the quarter final. And in the CONCACAF, he got into the semi-final and to put it into perspective, Scotland don't get to the World Cups. 'So we've got him in, got a work permit. First year was a lot of adaptation in terms of just everything, the language, everything. Second year, I think they were really strong group and we used 14-15 players last year and because we were winning games, it became easier week by week and the team became easier to pick. 'So it was difficult this year. We made a decision in the office when we found out Dan was probably not going to make it. Will we throw we Sammy in? I knew he would do well. He looks after the ball first and foremost, but he's really difficult to beat one on one, like really difficult and he's very good when he's on the ball. 'I'm just delighted for him. I can now trust him. And that was probably the one element to his game that was missing, that trust. And it's hard to get that trust when every point's a prisoner.' It was business as usual with Scott Pittman scoring for the Lions, before Lewis Smith ballooned the net with a fierce curling effort to thrust the home side two goals up. Robbie Muirhead missed a penalty for the West Lothian outfit and when Ross MacIver pulled a goal back for John McGlynn's men, the fightback looked on. Step forward new signing Jeremy Bokila to notch his first goal for the Almondvale club, leading to Martindale praising his new Congolese international striker. ' So big man's come in,' Martindale stated. 'He's played top tier in a few different countries, but he's come in from the top tier in the Netherlands last year. "One of his main attributes is he's quite physical. He's quite good, but I think he got a wee bit of a shock today. Falkirk were really physical. So it's a different type of game that he was coming in to. But I thought his finish was incredible. Thought it was a great finish for a 36-year-old that hasn't ever played in Scotland before.' The Bairns failed to get the better of the Lions on their way to winning the Championship last season and that is now eight games unbeaten for Livi against their rivals. Livingston now face Hibs next Sunday when they play host to the capital club.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Clinical Livingston earn first league win against Falkirk
Update: Date: 90'+10 Title: Post Content: Match ends, Livingston 3, Falkirk 1. Update: Date: 90'+10 Title: Full Time Content: Second Half ends, Livingston 3, Falkirk 1. Update: Date: 90'+7 Title: Post Content: Offside, Falkirk. Brian Graham is caught offside. Update: Date: 90'+7 Title: Post Content: Alfie Agyeman (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Update: Date: 90'+7 Title: Post Content: Jeremy Bokila (Livingston). Update: Date: 90'+6 Title: Post Content: Foul by Henry Cartwright (Falkirk). Update: Date: 90'+6 Title: Post Content: Andy Winter (Livingston) wins a free kick on the left wing. Update: Date: 90'+2 Title: Post Content: Fourth official has announced 8 minutes of added time. Update: Date: 90'+1 Title: Post Content: Delay over. They are ready to continue. Update: Date: 90'+1 Title: Post Content: Delay in match because of an injury Jérôme Prior (Livingston). Update: Date: 90' Title: Post Content: Foul by Lewis Neilson (Falkirk). Update: Date: 90' Title: Post Content: Jeremy Bokila (Livingston) wins a free kick on the left wing. Update: Date: 88' Title: Goal! Content: Goal! Livingston 3, Falkirk 1. Jeremy Bokila (Livingston) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Cristian Montaño. Update: Date: 85' Title: Booking Content: Jeremy Bokila (Livingston) is shown the yellow card. Update: Date: 84' Title: Post Content: Liam Henderson (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Update: Date: 84' Title: Post Content: Foul by Jeremy Bokila (Livingston). Update: Date: 82' Title: Post Content: Foul by Sean Mackie (Falkirk). Update: Date: 82' Title: Post Content: Andy Winter (Livingston) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Update: Date: 79' Title: Post Content: Attempt missed. Calvin Miller (Falkirk) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Scott Arfield with a headed pass following a set piece situation. Update: Date: 79' Title: Post Content: Henry Cartwright (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
BBC News
01-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Kilmarnock v Livingston: Team news
Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell revealed he had lost two unnamed players to injury in training this week. Jack Thomson is back training but not ready to striker Jeremy Bokila is pushing for his debut but Aidan Denholm faces a scan on a hamstring McLennan and Cristian Montano are not far off fitness while Cammy Kerr faces a lengthy spell of rehab.
