AN UNLUCKY RESULT AGAINST RAITH. 
We were unfortunate to concede so late in the game but at the end of the day we’re still in the hat so we’ll have to go up there and beat them now. 

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The Scottish Cup’s good. Most players will tell you that all they want is someone not in your division! It gets a bit repetitive playing someone five or six times a season. Obviously for us we’d like someone in the SPL so we’re testing ourselves against better quality of players.

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AS DISCUSSED IN OUR LAST INTERVIEW, YOU'VE HAD SOME ROTTEN LUCK WITH INJURIES.
Yeah it’s another one to add to the collection. It was a small tear so I’ve only been out for six weeks but I’ve only missed four/five games because of the international break. Unfortunately it’s one of these things, I went to take a free-kick against Morton in the first half and my body wasn’t warmed up enough so I hit it as hard as I could and felt it and I just knew. 

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WHAT WAS IT LIKE RETURNING TO ALMONDVALE IN AUGUST?
It was good going back there and playing, I still keep in touch with a few of the boys and I’m still coaching through in Livingston so I see the manager and the backroom staff quite a lot and get on well with them so it was good.

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MUCH FRIENDLY BANTER?
Obviously through the season, but up to the game and in the game you’ve got to be professional - it’s your job, isn’t it? Once the game’s done we can have a laugh and joke about it.

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DOES THIS SEASON FEEL DIFFERENT IN ANY WAY?
I only came in January and we went on a great run, but it feels different in a way as I feel our style of play has changed slightly. We went on that run and were dominating games with the majority of possession but now we’ve gone up a level and haven’t had much time to prepare we’ve found our feet reasonably well, we just haven’t had the results. It’s different because we’ve allowed teams to have a lot more of the ball and you could carry a couple of boys last season. If seven or eight played okay then you could get away with three or four maybe not. But this season you need all eleven and the subs to be on top of their game.

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HOW DO YOU THINK THE NEW PLAYERS HAVE SETTLED INTO THE SIDE?
The majority of the boys have settled in well, but it’s still only November. For boys like Gregor coming up from the Juniors it’s a massive step up for him. Cookie did well for us at the start of the season but he’s faded a bit. He’s still young and this is the highest level he’s played at. I think people forget that even though he’s a new signing he’s still a young and inexperienced.

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IS THAT HOW YOU FELT? YOU'RE STILL YOUNG YOURSELF!
I’m talking here as if I’m 36 when I’m only 22! When the manager made me vice-captain I’ve had meetings on the Monday to speak about the game with him, Lils and Nipper and I think that shows you what esteem they hold me in. But it’s not down to age, it’s about experience because I’ve won a couple of league titles and played games across the divisions.

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WHEN YOU AND LILS ARE OUT, NATHAN HAS BEEN CAPTAIN. HOW HAS THAT AFFECTED HIM, BEING EVEN YOUNGER THAN YOU?
I’d describe Nathan as an enigma. He could go down and captain Manchester United and it wouldn’t bother him, I don’t think that side of things affects him. He has tunnel vision, he knows what his job is and goes out and does it. I don’t think the crowd or who he’s playing or any other of the variables matter to him.

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TALKING OF VARIABLES, THIS IS OUR FIRST VENTURE INTO FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. ARE YOU KEEN ON THE IDEA?
I love it, because I stay away from home and don’t get to see the family as much because when you play on a Saturday that’s your weekend gone - especially if it’s an away game. Friday night football for part-time players means you’ve got your weekend free which is great, especially for the older players with families and boys who work. There’s some boys who have to turn down work on a Saturday because they’ve got a game, so Friday night football suits the players better, but I don’t know about the fans.

Interview by Douglas Barrie.