Livingston being among favourites can help Lions roar in Championship, says Stephen Kelly

Stephen Kelly reckons Livingston being among the favourites for the Championship title can help the Lions roar.

Following last season’s relegation from the top flight and crashing out of the Premier Sports League Cup at the group stage last week, Livi responded by downing Dunfermline in their league opener at the Home of the Set Fare Arena on Saturday.

Kelly grabbed the clincher with a cool finish after Scott Pittman’s 49th minute opener to get their title bid off to a flyer.

Dropping down from the Premiership, Kelly knows teams will be targeting them for a scalp this season, but the midfielder believes that can inspire them to make the immediate return.

He said: “As players you don’t really think about it too much but personally it might bring a wee bit more out of myself because you know teams are coming for you.

“It adds a wee bit of pressure but that’s when you know if players can handle it. Last season was definitely a bit of a slog, and overall it wasn’t good enough. This season brings fresh challenges. Most teams in the Championship have got enough to win games, it’s just about finding that consistency.

“It comes from every day taking each game as it comes and the next game is the most important one instead of looking months down the line. In the first league game you’re always looking as quickly as possible to get the first win. Overall we probably did enough to win the game and a clean sheet was an added bonus.”

It is a fresh start for the Lions this summer with 12 new signings in the door and Kelly reckons that overhaul was much-needed, and has helped them pick up four wins and four clean sheets from their first five competitive games in all competitions so far.

Kelly, whose side now travel to Lesser Hampden on