Livingston

We asked for your thoughts after Livingston's defeat to Celtic.

Here's what you had to say:

Jennifer: If it hadn't been for the goalkeeper it would've been easy five or six in the second half. We didn't pose any threat at all.

Kev: On paper points for survival are there, though performances aren't. There are a few players who are not giving their all for the team.

Phillip: The Championship is inevitable now. I'm still confused as to why the board didn’t make a management change earlier than now. It seems that they have just accepted relegation as our fate. I’m very worried about the future of the club given the financial implications of relegation to a team already struggling financially in the Premiership.

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Stephen Kelly admits Livingston have "not been good enough" for the majority of the season, but says the team are "fully focused" on getting a win against Aberdeen in their next game.

Celtic were held by Livi until half time, but Jamie Brandon's own goal four minutes into the second half led to an ultimately comfortable 3-0 victory for Brendan Rodgers' side.

"We put a lot of effort into the first half, at the same time the amount of possession and attacks Celtic had, it felt like a matter of time before they got that goal," Kelly said.

"Ultimately we didn't cause much going the other way which would have taken a bit of pressure off us at the back.

"The message [from David Martindale at half time] was more of the same. They did have a lot of territory but we did limit their chances. Against players of that quality when they get that much time, it can only be a matter of time before it leads to a mistake or a bit of skill and ultimately that's what happened today.

"Everybody will be fully focused on the next match and trying to get a win. We know the majority of the season hasn't been good enough but we just need to take each game as it comes at the moment."

Is there any hope of survival for Livingston? David Martindale's men kept Celtic at bay in the first half but were totally overrun after conceding the opening goal shortly after the break.

Have your say here.

Substitutes Adam Idah, James Forrest and Daniel Kelly all came close to adding to Celtic's tally in the closing moments as their goal difference moves to one better than Rangers.

Serving a suspension in the stand, manager Brendan Rodgers will have seen his team play better but will be satisfied with the way they remained patient to break down opponents set up to defend en masse.

Cameron Carter-Vickers lasted the full game after his latest injury setback, although the centre-half had very little to do.

Hatate was much more conspicuous during his 63 minutes of action. His touch, composure and energy have been missed and he could be a key player over the run-in.

Livingston have only scored nine goals at home in 15 league games and at no stage threatened to add to that meagre total.

Yes, Tete Yengi put himself about but the lone centre forward did not get a sniff of a chance in the penalty box.

Manager David Martindale set up with four central defenders and five midfielders grafting hard to subdue Celtic, but the plan went up in smoke the moment the unlucky Brandon knocked the ball into his own net.

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Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Scotland: "I think we could have posed a wee bit more of an attacking threat in the first half, but in terms of chances created by Celtic, we limited them to very little.

"I made a couple of slight adjustments, nothing major. [The opening goal] comes down to an individual error. It bounces off Jamie Brandon and you find yourself 1-0 down.

"The game becomes a little bit stretched and they pick us off. I think Shamal [George] will be disappointed with the third goal. The first goal changes everything, the game becomes so much harder for us.

"It's been must-win since matchday one. We need points every game. There's two scenarios here - we're going to get relegated or we've got a possibility of staying up. Either way, my mindset doesn't change. I'm still going out to win games.

"I could not say one player's not trying. They wouldn't be in my changing room [if they weren't]. This is the worst stage of my career being involved at Livingston."

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Jack Hamilton, James Penrice and Scott Pittman have been nursing injuries at Livingston.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Reo Hatate are in contention for Celtic but Yang Hyun-Jun has returned from international duty with a slight issue and Luis Palma misses out.

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Dan MacKay says Livingston are fully aware of the situation they find themselves in with eight games to go to preserve their Premiership status.

The West Lothian side are 10 points adrift at the bottom of the league after a turgid campaign, but the winger insists they can still be in the fight.

“We know the reality of the situation, we’ve known it for a few months," MacKay said. "We’ve got eight games left to give ourselves the best opportunity to stay up.

“It’s obviously going to be difficult. You see teams picking up results when you’re not and that makes the gap look a lot bigger. But mentally we’ve been good as a team this season, we’ve got a good bunch.

“Things haven’t worked this season for whatever reason but we’ve been there and thereabouts in most games whether we’ve won or not.

“We’ve got eight games to go, the past 30 games have gone now. We put that behind us, it’s a fresh start now. Hopefully we can pick up some points and you never know what can happen.”

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David Martindale has tipped James Penrice to succeed at Hearts, and believes he is capable of going to “another level” beyond the Tynecastle club.

The Livi left-back has penned a pre-contract deal at Hearts and will join Steven Naismith's side in the summer.

“I can’t wait to get James Penrice back ready and playing for Livingston,” the Livi manager said. “I have got absolutely no qualms whatsoever about playing him.

“I think it’s a fantastic move for the lad. I sat James down three years ago and said ‘come to me, we’ll make you better, we’ll progress your career’, so when I found out Hearts were interested, I was delighted for him.”

Martindale joked that Livi are becoming a “feeder club” for the Tynecastle side, following a successful move by Craig Halkett and Alan Forrest in 2019 and 2022 respectively.

The Livi boss believes Penrice will follow in their footsteps and succeed after a move from Livingston to Hearts.

“James is more than capable of stepping up and dealing with it, I think James has got another level in him [beyond Hearts], I really do,” said Martindale.

“Sometimes players can underestimate the size of the job at Tynecastle, when you put that shirt on in front of those fans, it’s a big place to play football.

“It takes big players. I think it took Alan a wee while to settle but I think the staff and the fans can now see why Alan went to Hearts originally, he’s been brilliant for them.

“Robbie Neilson took him in originally and I think Naisy (Steven Naismith) has been very good for him, he’s kicked on this season.

“Craig Halkett took to Hearts like a duck to water. He had a difficult start to life at Hearts but he’s had the captain’s band a few times.

“When I look at the players that have left Livingston to go to Hearts, it does nothing but bring a smile to my face. I genuinely mean that. I’m disappointed I’m losing someone of James’ ability but I’m absolutely delighted for him.”

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• Celtic’s Matt O’Riley is the only player in the Scottish Premiership to have scored 10+ goals (11) and provided 10+ assists (10) this season. O’Riley has been involved in four goals in his last three starts for Brendan Rodgers’ side (one goal, three assists).

• Celtic suffered a 2-0 defeat to Hearts in their last away match and could suffer back-to-back away defeats in the league for the first time this season and for the first time ever under manager Brendan Rodgers.

• Livingston have lost six of their last 10 home matches in the Scottish Premiership (W1 D3), which is as many defeats as they suffered across their previous 27 league games at the Tony Macaroni Stadium.

• Celtic have won each of their last seven matches against Livingston across all competitions, scoring 2+ goals in all seven victories – a total of 20 goals (2.9 per match), with Celtic conceding just four goals across this run.

• Livingston have won just one of their last 14 Scottish Premiership meetings with Celtic (D4 L9), a 1-0 victory in September 2021 thanks to a goal from Andrew Shinnie.

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Livingston manager David Martindale says he takes full ownership of the club's current plight, but insists everyone is doing their utmost to avoid relegation.

The West Lothian outfit are rooted to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership, 10 points behind Ross County in 11th with eight games remaining.

Martindale revealed he and the players regularly have meetings regarding their struggles, but that ultimately, "actions speak louder than words".

“We have had that conversation with the group on multiple occasions," he said. "The players have had that conversation as a group on multiple occasions. Everybody in this club cares. Players, staff, we have all done everything we can.

“We are not out of it yet. I understand how difficult it is and understand how big that hole is we are in. All those things we talk about we have done them. But actions speak louder than words.

“I can’t sit here and point the finger at the players. I can’t sit here and point the fingers at the staff. I have to take responsibility for that.”

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Livingston manager David Martindale has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership clash with Celtic on Sunday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Says the job this season has been even more difficult than he envisaged, and says "until the club gets cleaned up in terms of its ownership", external investment won't be possible.

• Regular meetings are held with players about the predicament they are in, and says "everybody cares".

• When asked how they can beat Celtic, he says the simple answer is to score more goals than they do.

• Martindale is disappointed by the news that Crawford Allan will step down as the Scottish FA's head of referee operations, but he is not surprised.

• Also added he is pleased for James Penrice, who has signed a pre-contract deal to sign for Hearts in the summer.

Livingston host Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday, knowing they simply have to start winning games if they want to avoid relegation this season.

Who would you like to see start against the champions? Pick your Livi XI for the game here.

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Livingston have had a miserable season at both ends of the pitch.

David Martindale's side have scored the least amount of goals in the top flight (20), and conceded the most (52) - form that sees them 10 points adrift.

Livi have not troubled opponents from set-pieces or from wide positions, with a measly two goals from corners, one goal from a header and one goal assisted from a cross - all lows in this season's top flight.

This is despite Martindale bringing in 6ft 4in striker Tete Yengi in January, and 6ft 3in forward Joel Nouble playing 28 league games this season.

Just nine different players have scored for Livi in the Scottish Premiership this season - tied lowest in the division.

The stats at the other end of the park don't make for much better reading.

Only one other team (Dundee) have conceded more from crosses (12 to Livingston's 10), and they are tied for most goals conceded from open play (41, the same as Ross County).

Despite a battling performance against Celtic, their last two games (defeat in the Scottish Cup at Celtic Park and a loss to Hibs) have seen Livi ship seven goals.

Martindale will need to figure out how to improve in both attack and defence to have a hope of keeping his team in the top flight.

We asked you whether Livingston can pull off the great escape as we head into the final stretch of the season.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Malky: Livi have punched way above their weight the last few seasons in the Premiership, but time's up. I honestly believe if a new manager had came in with fresh ideas and enthusiasm in December, it might have been different.

We're firmly into the business end of the season.

For Livingston, the last part of the campaign will have to be something special to beat the drop. We want to know how you're feeling as we head into the final stretch.

Do you still have hope that your side can survive? Who will be the key players if a miracle is to happen? And what has been your biggest frustration about David Martindale's side this term?

Give us your thoughts.

Motherwell midfielder Blair Spittal and Livingston full-back James Penrice will join Hearts in the summer under freedom of contract. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, BBC Sport

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

"A painful day in a painful season," said manager David Martindale after Livingston's 3-0 defeat to Hibs on Saturday, and no fan could argue with that statement.

A poor result, another poor performance and our poor season limps on. Our last (and only) away win in the league this season was at Easter Road and we’ve had some decent results against them in the past, so there was some optimism, especially following the performance against Celtic in the cup.

However, any hopes were blown away inside seven minutes as Hibs raced into a two-goal lead, before they added a third not long after.

There was a sickness bug sweeping through the club in the lead-up to this match, which is typical of this season. Just when we think we can turn things around and build on something positive, it all crashes back down.

Mathematically we can still stay in the league; realistically we need a miracle. I do admire Martindale’s belief that we can still do it. We will need that determination if we are to get results in the games coming up.

Next up, Celtic make the trip to West Lothian. I wouldn't be surprised if a few Livi fans stay in bed for Sunday’s lunchtime kick-off.

It’s likely we are playing for pride now but there’s probably a few players that won’t be at this level again so they should go out and show everyone how good they really can be.