Falkirk vs Livingston preview - Bairns wait on El Alagui

Posted Saturday, November 05, 2011 by PA

Falkirk are hoping to have top goalscorer Farid El Alagui available after a back injury when they face Livingston.

The Bairns, who will need to put thoughts of meeting Celtic at Hampden in January's Scottish Communities League Cup final to the back of their minds, have already ruled out injured midfielder Craig Sibbald with defenders Kieran Duffie and Thomas Scobbie also expected to be absent.

Falkirk's technical director Alex Smith said: "It is feet back on the ground time as there is a lot of football to be played before we face Celtic.

"Livingston have very good strikers and having won last week on the road for the first time they will be keen to grab a second victory as soon as possible."

Livingston will be missing recent signing Maurice Ross after the former Scottish international picked up a hand injury.

Ross will be joined on the sidelines by the midfield pair of David Sinclair and Liam Fox who again miss out through injury.

Manager Gary Bollan remained upbeat about his side's prospects despite the trio's absence.

"Some of the younger players in our squad will get the chance to show what they can do and that has worked well for us so far this season," he said.

"Last weekend our young players gave a very mature performance at Queen of the South when we won, and they will need to do that again against a Falkirk side that will be full of confidence after recent results."