Ayo Obileye wants more goals to help lift Livingston’s survival bid

Ayo Obileye is desperate to get back on the goal trail to help revive Livingston’s fading survival bid.

The 29-year-old centre-back has netted 33 times in his career and prides himself on being a threat in the opposing box.

Obileye got six in his first season at Livi after scoring nine in his solitary campaign at previous club Queen of the South, so he has been frustrated at notching just two over the past two years.

The former Eastleigh and Maidenhead defender’s only goal this term came in a 5-0 League Cup win away to Cove Rangers in July.

“Scoring goals used to come quite easily for me,” said Obileye.

“Last season got cut short because of injury but this season I’ve not really had many opportunities.

“I don’t know if it’s luck, if I’m not putting myself in the right position, if the deliveries are not coming my way, or maybe I need to do better when I get the chance.

“It feels like it’s just not clicking for me but I always say to myself at the start of every game that I need to try and get on the end of a cross.

“We’ve got seven games left. I’m always optimistic and ambitious. I’ll be thinking I can score five goals in seven games. I always think like that. I want to do better in the opposition box.”

Livingston are 10 points adrift at the foot of the cinch Premiership with just seven games left ahead of Saturday’s visit from Aberdeen. Obileye is adamant his team are doing everything they can to improve their plight and will continue to fight to the end.

“It’s difficult, it’s been like this all season,” he said. “But I’m a faithful person, I’m quite religious, so I believe it’s not done until it’s done.

“I still feel like we’ve got a chance. I think once we get that first win, we can go on a run.

“As a team we know that we need to be better and hopefully we can turn it round. I believe we are a very good. This season might not have shown that but I still believe we’re a very good team. Hopefully we can show that against Aberdeen.”

Obileye is one of several players expected to leave Livingston this summer but he is adamant he remains focused on the task at hand.

“I haven’t really been thinking about that (my future) too much,” he said. “I just know in my head that I need to perform for the team. If I’m not playing well or performing for the team, teams are not going to be watching me.”