Livingston

Substitute Alexandros Kyziridis' dramatic injury-time winner secured Hearts three points against Livingston to nudge them top of the Scottish Premiership.

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Livingston manager David Martindale: "It's always difficult to lose late goals. We don't start the second half well.

"I don't think there was much in the first half. I don't think we caused too much trouble offensively, I think we gave Hearts too much possession, maybe too much respect in the second half.

"I don't think there was a lot in the game but I was really disappointed in the referee. It felt like every tackle was a yellow card. I genuinely don't think it was a dirty game of football.

"When you've got 6500 away fans in the stadium then that momentum breeds energy. Adversely, that affects ourselves. I felt we could have been braver on the ball.

"Last year we probably won that game two or three nil in the championship. That's just the step up in this league. You can definitely tell there's a step up in ability [at Hearts]. Nobody would have moaned too much if it was a point apiece. a wee bit disappointed to not get a point but I don't think we did enough to win the game ourselves."

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Livingston pair Adam Montgomery and Graham Carey are back in contention but Shane Blaney is set to miss out through injury.

On-loan Hearts midfielder Macaulay Tait is unable to face his parent club and longer-term absentees Cammy Kerr and Aidan Denholm are still out.

Hearts boss Derek McInnes is likely to be selecting from an unchanged squad, with goalkeepers Ryan Fulton (groin) and Craig Gordon (shoulder), as well as Jamie McCart (ankle), Kenneth Vargas (hip), Finlay Pollock (hamstring) and Christian Borchgrevink (thigh) all set to remain sidelined.

New record signing Ageu is awaiting work permit confirmation.

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Tete Yengi insists he is ready to make an impression in the top flight after failing to score so far this season.

The Australian joined relegation-bound Livingston in 2024 and netted seven goals in the last four months of the campaign.

The striker hit 10 goals last term as David Martindale's side gained promotion from the Championship, but hasn't made the scoresheet yet after four substitute appearances.

Speaking before Saturday's visit of Hearts, Yengi said: "I feel good physically, I've had a few minutes in the games and I feel good when I'm coming on, so I'm just looking to get that start and then kick on from there.

"I'm confident in myself. I know the league from the time I had when I first arrived. I'm confident in the team that we have and with the way we're going to play this season, I think we will create a lot of chances."

The 24-year-old believes his brother, Kusini Yengi, who joined Aberdeen this season will "be really good" despite the Dons' difficult start to the campaign.

"It's been a tough start for them (Aberdeen) and a tough start for him, but I'm confident in him," added Yengi.

"I have belief in him. He's a confident guy and I'm sure once he gets a few goals, once they start playing good football, then he'll be really good.

"We play them in a couple of weeks, so I'm looking forward to that. Hopefully we can both be on the pitch at the same time, that'll be cool."

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Striker Zak Rudden has made a "surprise" move to Dunfermline just two months after joining Livingston from Queen's Park.

The 25-year-old has left for an undisclosed fee after making five appearances for David Martindale's side, scoring once.

However, the forward has not featured in Livingston's past two Scottish Premiership games.

"In all honesty, it came as a bit of a surprise," said manager Martindale. "Neither myself or Zak had any knowledge of Dunfermline's interest until I had a phone call from them.

"I spoke with Zak and we had a very good conversation face-to-face and I explained this wasn't part of our plans, but that I would understand if he wanted to be a regular number nine week in, week out.

"To be fair to Zak, he wasn't looking to leave, but when we both talked it over it was obvious this would be a very good move for him from a footballing point of view, and we would receive a nominal transfer fee which always helps in any move."

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• Livingston have won just two of their past 26 top-flight meetings with Hearts (D10 L14), a 5-0 victory in December 2018 and 1-0 in September 2022.

• Hearts won all three of their Scottish Premiership games against Livingston in 2023-24; Hearts last won more top-flight meetings with the Lions in succession in March 2006 (five).

• Livingston have won three of their past four Scottish Premiership home games (D1), including their first this season 3-1 over Falkirk. They had only won two of their previous 17 at home in the competition beforehand (D7 L8).

• Hearts have won each of their past three away league outings, their longest such run since winning five in a row in February 2024.

• Against Motherwell last time out, Hearts became the first side to come from three goals behind to avoid defeat in the Scottish Premiership since Aberdeen also drew 3-3 with Motherwell in February 2024. Claudio Braga became the first Hearts substitute to score twice in a single Premiership match since Lawrence Shankland netted a hat-trick against Celtic in October 2022.

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David Martindale revealed he is preparing to deal with a couple of "unexpected" departures from his Livingston squad before Monday's transfer deadline.

The Livi manager had only planned to add a full-back, but now admits he is eyeing further reinforcements after two players signalled this week they are keen to move on.

"Until probably 48 hours ago I was fairly happy with what I had, but there's been a wee bit of developments in here that are probably going to nudge me back into the market," Martindale said.

"That was a wee bit unexpected, to be honest. I had a phone call yesterday with a club interested in one of our players who indicated that he's not had as much game-time as he wants, so he'd probably like to explore that opportunity, which I'm more than happy with. I've got a great relationship with the player.

"And we've got another one who's got a loan option at a pretty decent level.

"None of them are signed, sealed and delivered, but I think the two of them are potentially going to get done.

"So it's probably opened up the door for me to have a wee look at another possibly one, possibly two coming in."

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

Away days are a big part of the season. Trips to places you never get to or stadiums that radiate atmosphere is something I've looked forward to.

Going to Celtic Park, home of the champions, is an option that's being priced further and further away from most fans.

Let's be honest, if you are a Livi fan there is more chance of David Martindale appearing with a Russell Martin-style hairdo than we have of winning there.

We've scrapped the odd point but the gulf between the teams is huge. Better teams than Livi struggle to take away any points from the east end of Glasgow.

Throw in the necessity of backs-to-the-wall defending to keep us in it and playing in our own half (maybe even 18-yard box) for most of the game and it's hardly a spectacle you'll be rushing to.

For a wallet-bursting, eye-watering £36 you can watch Livi take on a team with a vastly superior budget. And if you don't mind risking a neck-injuring view of watching the game from behind a pillar, the restricted view is a mere £33.

Prices for kids are either £25 or £16. Add that up for a family and it is a sizeable chunk before you've even paid for a pie, fuel and someone to 'watch your car' when you are at the game.

Livi fans are mocked for our low numbers but surely teams with millions in the bank can help the travelling fans out a little and have reasonable pricing?

The twenty's plenty campaign really is food for thought. Even for us to get fans along to fill up our stadium. I'd rather see that packed and noisy, than the sea of yellow seats I often look upon.

I manged along to the game thanks to a Celtic-supporting pal donating their season ticket (thanks again Mickey) and thought we did okay.

We were organised, competitive and made Celtic work for their win. We could have maybe even celebrated a goal if Mo Sylla hadn't got a fright being in the unusual position of in front of the opposition goal and fumbled our best chance.

Watch Sportscene analysis of Jerome Prior's incredible save against Celtic.

Watch highlights as much-changed Celtic dispatch Livingston in the Scottish Premiership.

Three goals in 20 second-half minutes blew away Livingston's stubborn resistance, with Celtic's Benjamin Nygren grabbing a double before Irish striker Johnny Kenny smashed home his first goal at Celtic Park.

Read the match report here

Have your say on the game

Livingston manager David Martindale: "I don't think we deserved anything from the game.

"We had a really, really good first half and we give away a cheap goal. The change of shape helped us offensively but left us a wee bit wide open at the back and that probably led to the other two goals.

"I didn't come here to take a 1-0 defeat, I didn't come here to take a 2-0 defeat. We came here to try and stay in the game as long as we could.

"Celtic deserved the three points but I think there's still positives to take. We've not played an opponent at this level for 18 months. The boys equipped themselves fairly well, especially the first half."

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Celtic have lost Alistair Johnston (hamstring) for about 12 weeks while Auston Trusty (foot) is also ruled out.

Adam Idah (knee) is a doubt while Jota (knee) is a long-term absentee.

Livingston left-back Adam Montgomery has recovered from a muscle injury but cannot face his parent club.

Danny Wilson and Graham Carey remain out alongside longer-term absentees Cammy Kerr and Aidan Denholm while Cristian Montano is pushing to be available.

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Livingston winger Connor McLennan believes he returns to the Premiership as a "better player" after spending two seasons away from the top flight.

The 25-year-old made more than 100 appearances in the Premiership with Aberdeen and on loan with St Johnstone before leaving for Salford City in 2023.

McLennan joined David Martindale's side in the summer having moved back north to Ayr United in October last year.

"I'm really looking forward to it. You want to play at the highest level, so I'm happy to go and do that again," he said ahead of his return after an injury ruled him out of the opening two league games.

"I've been away from the Premiership for a couple of years, down south and then at Ayr United last year. I really enjoyed both experiences, but I'm really looking forward to challenging myself against the top side in the country as well.

"I felt good in pre-season, I had a strong pre-season and then in the first cup game took a nasty challenge. So I was out for a few weeks with that. I'm starting to get back into the squad now and I'm looking forward to it.

"I think I've come back a much better player from both experiences. A bit of a stop-start season with Salford, an injury in my appendix kept me out a wee while there.

"And then back up the road to Ayr United, which I really enjoyed. The manager there gave me plenty of game-time and it was really important for me to play week after week, which I've done.

"It was also a different kind of position than I'm used to as well, which I really enjoyed. And I think that's also made me a better player and I'm looking forward to coming back into the top flight."

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Livingston winger Lewis Smith has signed a one-year contract extension, keeping him in West Lothian until the summer of 2027.

The 25-year-old joined from Hamilton last summer and was a key player in the promotion-winning campaign, scoring five goals in 41 games.

So far this season the attacker has made six appearances for David Martindale's side.

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• Celtic have won their past eight meetings with Livingston in all competitions, scoring 2+ goals each time and keeping a clean sheet in five of them.

• Livingston have never won away to Celtic in 21 visits in all competitions (D3 L18). Celtic have only faced Dumbarton more times at home in their history without ever losing (26).

• Celtic have won both of their league games this season without conceding. The Hoops have won and kept a clean sheet in each of the first three games of a league campaign six times previously: 1906-07, 1970-71, 1986-87, 2001-02, 2010-11 and 2024-25.

• Livingston have won just one of their past 28 away games in the Scottish Premiership (D4 L23), failing to win any of their latest 18 (D4 L14) since a 3-2 victory at Hibernian in August 2023.

• Livingston are the joint top scorers in the opening two matches of this season's Scottish Premiership (five goals, level with Hearts), while their expected goals tally of 3.4 is the outright highest in the competition so far.

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Livingston striker Tete Yengi has penned a new deal that will keep him at the club until summer 2027.

The 6ft 5in forward has netted 16 times in 64 appearances since making the switch from Ipswich Town in January 2024.

Among Yengi's goals was the clinching strike in last season's play-off final as David Martindale's men beat Ross County 4-2 to return to the Premiership.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Livingston manager David Martindale has set himself a target of taking the club to another national final at Hampden and potentially earning a European place with the West Lothian club.

Martindale signed a new contract with Livingston last week, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2027.

The 51-year-old joined Livi in 2014 initially as a volunteer but worked his way up the ladder eventually becoming manager in 2020.

"I would love to take the club to a cup final," he said. "We won a cup (Challenge Cup) last year with fans.

"We got to a cup final in previous years at Hampden with no fans. So, one of the main ambitions is I would like to take the club back to Hampden.

"Whether that's a semi-final, whether that's a final, it's a big ambition for me."

However, Martindale is wary of aiming too high too soon, and says they must first consolidate their top-flight status.

"I'd love to have a shot at European football with Livingston," he said. "But to do that, you need to consolidate in the league and you need to get a top-six finish.

"But we've shown as a club, shown as a group, staff, myself included, that we're more than capable of getting top six.

"We're more than capable of getting the cup finals. But I think the short-term aspirations this season is consolidating the league.

"But longer-term objective is always going to be taking the club back to Hampden with fans behind us. And then hopefully trying to achieve European football at some stage."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Livingston manager David Martindale has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park on Saturday.

Here are the best bits from his news conference:

• Has ambition of taking club back to Hampden and qualifying for Europe, but says the primary objective this season has to be staying in the top flight.

• Players and staff have shown a top six place in the future is achievable and Martindale "would have bit your hand off" for four points from their opening two league matches.

• Martindale says it would be no surprise if Tony Bloom achieves his goal of challenging the Old Firm with Hearts - "I do think it's something that could happen in the coming years".

• Celtic have shown they are "best team in the country" and Martindale fully expects them to beat Kairat Almaty on aggregate to make the Champions League proper.

• He stressed the need to add to his Livingston squad before the end of the window with a right-back the priority.

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

There are still a few days of the transfer window to go, but I think Livingston have made their signing of the season with the manager committing to another couple of years at the helm.

Since coming joining as a volunteer in 2014, Davie Martindale's quickly rose through the ranks at Livi to become our longest-serving manager.

There hasn't been a single dull moment of each of 1,726-plus days and 225 games he's been in charge.

What I like about this is it brings stability. With all the shenanigans we've had off the park over the years this is music to my ears.

He's arguably our best ever manager. In my book he's our most successful.

His passion for the club is second to none. It's clear he works long hours and I'd wager his family would say there have been a few grim weekends when we've been beaten too.

He's put his all into the club and really deserves this contract. He's rightly given credit for his tactical nous and ability to get players to give their all for the team too.

He's put structure and processes in place that would be unimaginable just a few years ago. We have forward-thinking things sport scientists, cryochambers for recovery and video technology for training.

It's clear he's thinking years ahead for the club, which is a positive.

One day we won't have Davie Martindale as our manager, he is overdue an opportunity at a so-called 'big club'.

But I'm pleased he's committed to Livingston for another few years. You can guarantee there won't be a single dull day for us Livi fans until he does go.

We asked for your views on Livingston's 2-0 defeat against Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup.

Here's what some of you said:

Del: Needed to create more of a threat. That new midfielder appears necessary.

Kyle: To be fair we were outplayed at almost everything but the second goal was something else.

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