David Martindale wants 'what's right' for Livingston after win over Dundee United
- Published
Two second-half goals are enough for Livingston to sink Dundee United in West Lothian.
David Martindale wants to do "what's right" for Livingston after leading them to a second win as caretaker boss.
A 2-0 win over Dundee United took Livi up to ninth in the Scottish Premiership and followed last week's League Cup defeat of Ayr United.
Scott Pittman and Marvin Bartley netted for the Lions.
"If the club think I'm the right man to take the club forward, I'd love to do it," said Martindale, who stepped up following Gary Holt's resignation.
"I'm on record saying I would like the job, but I want to do what's right for the club. If the club want to keep me in my current role, as a support coach or an assistant manager, I'm more than happy to do it as well."
Livingston are a point above Hamilton Academical and one behind St Johnstone, while Dundee United, who were without nine players and their first-team management staff because of Covid-19 protocols, remain sixth, one adrift of Motherwell.
The visitors, without top scorer Nicky Clark and with youth coach Thomas Courts in the dugout, started brightly and Adrian Sporle's free-kick bounced wide.
United continued to enjoy plenty of territory but could not convert it into chances.
Livingston were much more of an attacking threat in the second period and Bartley almost put them in front with a powerful strike that brought out the best in Benjamin Siegrist.
However, the Swiss goalkeeper could do nothing as Pittman slammed the ball into the bottom right corner after the midfielder had carried from deep.
Home defender Jon Guthrie could not keep his shot down moments later and Josh Mullin tested Siegrist from a wide angle.
But Bartley made sure of the points at a corner, pouncing after the ball broke off Mark Connolly in the six-yard box.
Man of the match - Marvin Bartley
The Livingston captain bossed the midfield in the second half and got the clinching goal
What did we learn?
Maybe it was the rain, perhaps it was the cold temperature, but neither side could really get out of second gear in the first half.
Livingston still at times miss a commanding presence in attack since Lyndon Dykes' departure but a change of approach in the second half that encouraged midfielders to go beyond striker Matej Poplatnik paid dividends.
Dundee United made three changes to their starting line, but one of those was down to Calum Butcher's suspension, indicating that Paul McMullan and Clark are among the nine players in isolation.
Clark's absence was felt the most with neither Marc McNulty nor Lawrence Shankland able to really trouble the Livingston defence until Shankland tested Max Stryjek late on.
What did they say?
Martindale wants 'what's right' for Livi
Livingston caretaker boss David Martindale: "First half was a wee bit nervy. I thought we got to grips with the game from around 25 minutes onwards and we started dominating our style of play in the game.
"In the Premiership, if you can get the first goal games are a lot easier. It's nice and pleasing to score the first goal because it changes the dynamics of the game and it makes clean sheets that little bit easier because you've got something to hold on to."
Dundee United coach Thomas Courts: "I don't think [the Covid-19 issues] had a lot of impact. The way that they started the game, you can tell that they were together, there was a spirit there. It was a really mature performance in the first 45.
"In the second half, you started to see the game slipping away from us. The second half was suiting Livingston far more than Dundee United. That's the frustration and disappointment."
Courts plays down impact of Covid-19 issues
What's next?
Livingston visit St Johnstone next Saturday and Dundee United host Rangers the following day.