St Johnstone vs Livingston: A Tactical Battle in the Scottish Cup

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari is bracing his team for a high-stakes Scottish Cup quarter-final clash against Livingston, a side known for their strategic use of football's 'dark arts.' The match, set to take place at the Home of the Set Fare Arena in Livingston, promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams vie for a spot in the semi-finals.

Valakari's Strategy: Countering Livingston's Tactics

Valakari has openly acknowledged Livingston's unique approach to the game, which includes unconventional methods to gain an edge. "I really like these dark arts that they are doing, they do everything to win the game," Valakari remarked. "They put water on one half of the field, they use everything that you can to give yourselves a little advantage and that is how it should be and I like it and we need to prepare ourselves to face every challenge that comes our way."

St Johnstone's Recent Form

Despite being at the bottom of the Premiership, St Johnstone has shown signs of improvement, losing only two of their last eight games across all competitions. This resurgence began with their victory over Motherwell in the Scottish Cup earlier this year, a match that Valakari credits with boosting the team's confidence. "Yes you are right, we were in a very bad position and we needed something to give us this inner belief, even more, 'we can play, we can get the results', but at the same time we went for that match with a nothing to lose attitude," he said.

The Importance of a Positive Mindset

Valakari has emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, even in the face of adversity. "The positivity has never gone anywhere because what is the point if we inside start to be negative?" he stated. "Have I been frustrated? Yes I have been very frustrated but the confidence, the belief, the positivity - it is still there. We have not always got the results we have been wanting, that is the nature of the league."

Livingston's Strong Form

Livingston, currently third in the Championship, enters the match undefeated in their last 11 games across all competitions. Their recent victory over Ross County in the Premiership cup serves as a testament to their strength and tactical prowess. "That is a good example, we see how good Ross County have been but they went with a game plan, Livingston, they executed it very well, they took their chances, they defended," Valakari noted.

Looking Ahead

As the top-flight side, St Johnstone will start the game as slight favorites, but Valakari is well aware of the challenges posed by Livingston. "They are a very good strong team with a clear identity how they want to play. I know they want to put us under pressure, they want to play, they want to come and press us high, they want us to commit ourselves to some stupid mistakes and then they have experience and quality in their side to know how to play these games," he added.

With a semi-final spot at Hampden Park on the line, both teams are expected to bring their A-game to this highly anticipated quarter-final clash.