Livingston: Can Martindale's side rise off bottom to beat the drop?
- Published
Livingston 'a point closer to County' despite late blow
Seven days is a long time in football.
In a Scottish Premiership season that has trundled on for bottom side Livingston, their past week will have felt particularly protracted.
Their turgid campaign has been months of desperately gasping for air as the water creeps higher and higher. Now, after just a point from three meetings with relegation rivals, the breathing room is nearing nought.
First they were tasked with a trip to Dingwall for the quintessential six-pointer against nearest rivals Ross County. David Martindale's side travelled north buoyed by breaking their 17-game winless run with victory over St Mirren.
That much-needed lift seeped away as they were dealt Highland heartbreak by Josh Reid's dramatic winner.
A chance to bounce back rolled round on Wednesday as they welcomed a Motherwell side that had seemed out of sorts for much of the season. That feeling was heightened by Tete Yengi's early opener, only for Stuart Kettlewell's side to come roaring back to run out comfortable winners.
And then on Saturday, Livingston looked as assured as they have all year, motoring towards a gritty and gutsy win over St Johnstone, only for old defensive issues to rear their head again.
Craig Levein's men rarely troubled the visiting backline before the wily Nicky Clark ghosted into the box and steered a header home. There it was, another sucker punch. While the draw narrowed the gap slightly, it leaves Martindale's men six points adrift having played a game more than nearest foes Ross County.
'Their fighting spirit has always been there'
Their manager has been downtrodden at times in this cruel campaign, but still he insists they can defy the odds.
"I'd have taken a point before the game," Martindale said. "We're a point closer to Ross County. We're a point closer to where we were at 3 o'clock today.
"It's disappointing to lose the goal late on. I think their fighting spirit has always been there. You can tell they're doing everything they can to stay in the Premiership. They're all in there gutted."
While they stew over their demoralising week - poring over the what ifs and pondering the what could have beens - the clock continues to tick down.
Even if those in West Lothian have the most compelling belief that they can pull off the unlikely, at some point, the unlikely becomes the impossible.
"It's going to be really, really difficult for them to get out of this predicament," former Livingston boss Allan Preston said on Sportsound. "Games are whittling down and they're not closing the gap.
"I feel sorry for Martindale because his side gave a hell of a lot in that opening 80 minutes but they just couldn't keep the clean sheet."
Is the door still open?
Despite ending the week with a more sparse return than they would have desired, curiously, Livingston might be able to take more heart from this run than their previous barren spell.
Though still some way off the miracle machine of the Livingston of old, there's been flashes of fight and desire. Amid all the adversity, the door remains ajar.
Martindale's plan is to still be in with a chance when the split rolls around in four games' time. Considering the run they have in that period, it will be no easy task.
After a Scottish Cup quarter-final away to Celtic, they have two trips to the capital to face Hibs and Hearts, either side of home games against the champions and an Aberdeen side in freefall.
The chaos unfolding at Pittodrie is one of the few slithers of hope offering Livingston salvation. A win in their meeting could prove pivotal in a relegation battle that can only remain ongoing if the West Lothian outfit make it so.
Time isn't on their side, but Martindale and co can only hope his side's week of woes can provide one final wake-up call before the bell tolls.
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