Livingston host Ross County in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, looking to keep their faint hopes of survival alive.
Who do you think should start for David Martindale's side?
Put yourself in the manager's shoes and pick your Livi XI here.
Sean McGill
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSDavid Martindale says he's trying to protect the mental health of his Livingston squad during their gruelling Premiership season.
The West Lothian side must beat 11th-placed Ross County on Saturday to have any realistic chance of being in the top flight next term.
After a weekend with the Scottish Cup semi-finals taking pace, Martindale hopes his squad are returning refreshed following a break to spend time with family.
"It was more about giving the players and staff time off," he said. "We shut the club down basically, giving everyone a reset. It's been a challenging period, it's been tough.
"We try to take a bit of pressure off the players and staff. It's a difficult environment when you're losing games and you're at the bottom of the league.
"You've got to look at the psychology and the mental health of that and give people a wee bit of a break.
"I'm in the changing room quite a bit, and the one thing I'll give you with this squad of players is they've never lost their positivity. After games is normal, but on a Monday morning, we come back ready to go.
"Losing games and being bottom of the league isn't good [mentally] in any sport. Then you throw in social media, which is a cesspit when you're not winning games of football.
"We try and speak about that with the players, try and make then understand social media isn't always the best place to be. It's easy for people to go on and start pointing fingers."
Sean McGill
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSLivingston manager David Martindale has been facing the media ahead of his side's win-or-bust meeting with Ross County on Saturday.
Here are the key points:
Insists every game has been a big game in their difficult season. They will focus on themselves rather than the Dingwall side and do "everything they can" to win.
Expects a "major overhaul" of the squad regardless of what division they play in next term. Adds there are 14 or 15 players he believes will leave in the summer, while he has 12 or 13 he can rely on and hopes to build on.
Gave the players time off last week to recover from the "psychological" strain of battling at the bottom.
Has to take into consideration how their season has affected his players' mental health, advising them to come off the "cesspit" of social media to avoid having the finger pointed at them.
"Uncoachable errors" and "individual mistakes" are a big reason why Livingston are where they are, saying it's important the squad sticks together and there's no culture of blame. Says he has made errors too that maybe aren't as obvious as a stray pass or a missed chance.
Steven Bradley is injured, while Tete Yengi is suspended following a second yellow after he'd been substituted at Tynecastle. Doesn't anticipate fresh bodies being named on the bench, which only had four outfielders a fortnight ago.
Image source, SNSLivingston lost the Reserve Cup final 2-1 to Dunfermline at Almondvale on Tuesday.
Rudi Bryce put Livi in front, but goals either side of half-time from Jake Sutherland and Taylor Sutherland saw Dunfermline crowned champions.
We asked you which of Livingston's out-of-contract players you'd been keen to keep beyond the summer.
Here's a taste of what you had to say:
Del: Time to find out who rates themselves beyond their performances this season or who's going to be honest. Too many fantasists in the squad.
Anon: If we can keep hold of Jamie Brandon, Jason Holt, Andrew Shinnie and Tete Yengi we'll be doing well, The rest can go, though can't see any one of them wanting to stay if David Martindale is still there.
Malky: Livi need a mass clearout as it's inevitable we're going down. Anderson, Holt and Shamal George are the three players I'd try and keep to build around.
With several players out of contract in the summer, clubs up and down the country are considering who they want to be involved next season.
Livingston's slim chances of staying in the Premiership mean an overhaul is likely, with Joel Nouble, Ayo Obileye and Bruce Anderson all earmarked for departure.
Other names set to leave include Michael Nottingham, Andrew Shinnie, Mikey Devlin, Jack Hamilton, Kurtis Guthrie, Christian Montano and Sean Kelly.
Who would you like to keep, and who would you be happy to wave goodbye to?
Livingston begin their post-split fixtures with a must-win home game against second-bottom Ross County on Saturday, 27 April.
Defeat would relegate David Martindale's side, who are currently 12 points adrift at the bottom.
Livi complete the campaign at home to Hibs on 19 May.
Livingston's post-split fixtures (All times BST):
Ross County (H) Saturday, 27 April 15:00
Motherwell (A) Saturday, 4 May 15:00
St Johnstone (H) Saturday, 11 May 15:00
Aberdeen (A) Wednesday, 15 May 19:45
Hibs (H) Sunday, 19 May 15:00
Image source, SNSStuart Barrie
Fan writer
Livingston's defeat at Tynecastle pretty much sums up our season. Played well in parts, played okay in parts, played awful in parts, and then shot ourselves in the foot with individual errors.
The first 20 minutes we were excellent and even the most pessimistic Livi fan was daring to dream of a great escape as we soared into a 0-2 lead.
Then, reality struck when Hearts woke up and smashed four past us. Same old story for the season.
Only Livi would get a player sent off when Tete Yengi was subbed and kicked a water bottle into his own dugout. That’s daft from the player, but even dafter officiating too. He’s been our main goal threat, so we’ll miss big Tete.
We now need to win all five remaining games to have the unlikeliest of escapes. To put that into perspective, we have won three all season, so it’s not going to happen.
Mathematically we can do it, but everyone knows it’s over.
Its been a long, bleak season with little to cheer about, so rather than trying eek out some points, I say throw caution to the wind and go for it. Give the fans the entertainment we have sorely missed this season.
I’d rather we lost 4-3 than defended all game and hoped for a breakaway or set-piece goal.
I’d love for the manager to let the shackles off, release the pressure and give the support something to cheer before the inquests and budget cuts that the inevitable drop to the Championship will bring.
Image source, SNSJamie Brandon says Livingston made it "too easy" for Hearts to stage a first-half comeback in their defeat at Tynecastle.
The defender also points to the depleted West Lothian squad due to numerous injuries, while focus turns to the final five games of the season.
"We started the game well and pressed them high and managed to get good opportunities from that," Brandon told club media. "Stephen Kelly showed his quality was two great finishes.
"I think it's too easy for them to get back into the game. We give away the goals and it's disappointing.
"We've came here and executed the game plan well for 20 minutes. After we goal two goals up, we drop off a bit and give them too much space.
"They're a good team, they're sitting third in the league, and if you give them space and time they're going to punish you. That's what happened.
"There's obviously quite a few boys injured just now, the squad's light. It limits what the gaffer can do if things aren't going right in a game.
"We need to go and win as many games as we can [in the split]. We'll be playing the teams round about us and picking up points is ultimately what we need to do."
Pat Nevin and Richard Foster join Liam McLeod to pick over the bones of another incredible weekend of Scottish football drama.
They look back on Ross County’s historic victory over Rangers and discuss what impact it could have at both ends of the table.
They also assess the jobs done by Tony Docherty and Nick Montgomery as Dundee secure their place in the top 6 at the expense of Hibs and Motherwell.
Listen to today's episode of the Scottish Football Podcast here.
Image source, SNSLivingston boss David Martindale pleaded for common sense to rule after Tete Yengi's bizarre red card against Hearts.
Having been booked while playing, Yengi was the substituted and appeared frustrated with his own performance as he was taken off.
Referee Colin Steven took umbrage with the Australian's reaction, and subsequently showed him a second yellow despite the fact he'd left the field.
"The kid comes off park frustrated, he’s kicked one of our bottles," Martindale explained.
“He’s kicked it into our dugout, I just think there has to be a bit of common sense applied. There is no explanation, you are not allowed to do it."
Yengi, who has become a key player for Livi since his January arrival, will now miss the first game of Livingston's post-split fixtures.
“You are bottom of the league, fighting for survival, you are 2-0 up and losing 4-2, he gets substituted and I think common sense has to be applied," Martindale added.
“It’s not the way I want the game to go. I’m not saying what he’s done is right but I think you need to give him some leeway. We’re down to the bare bones as it is so he’s let us down as well.
“If that bottle had gone into the fans, book him all day long, if it had gone into the Hearts technical area, book him.”
Highlights of Hearts' impressive comeback victory over bottom side Livingston.
Were you at Tynecastle or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here.
Image source, SNSLivingston manager David Martindale: "I think you saw the good and bad of Livingston this season.
"We started the game really well, really aggressive in the press. We forced them into mistakes and scored two cracking goals. We make a chance we should do better with with big Tete [Yengi].
"Then you see the ugly side if I'm honest. It's been the downfall all season. They work two good goals, I'll give them two. We allow the cross in and drop our runners.
"But there's also two individual mistakes in there. You strip the game back and we've given them two goals.
"The chances we created in the game, I think we created the better ones when you take out our two individual errors.
"I promise you I'm not treating any game different. I'm coming in to win the next game. I don't get out my bed to get beat.
"These next five games, win, lose or draw I will approach every game the same and make sure I've got enough players behind me with the same mindset.
"Can we go an win the five games? I think we can. Is it a big ask? Of course it is, I'm not delusional. But we need to go and try to win games and we've been trying from match day one. But we've not been good enough."
Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland
This was a complete sickener for David Martindale and Livingston, who made the perfect start in their bid to close to six points of Ross County ahead of the Staggies' meeting with Rangers on Sunday.
But their defensive issues cost them dearly after they started ferociously and caught out sleepy Hearts.
Two of Hearts' goals were gifts, with Ayo Obileye completely missing a simple defensive header for the second, and Devlin's awful backpass causing the penalty.
The fact three of them were Hearts players getting a free strike on goal from around the six-yard box will infuriate Martindale. But it's no surprise given Livingston have the worst defensive record in the league.
The fiery Livi boss will fight until relegation is confirmed, but it looks a case of when rather than if. Their frustration was summed up by striker Tete Yengi, who was shown a second yellow card for some dissent and a furious reaction once replaced.
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNSStephen Kelly, on his 24th birthday, scored two brilliant goals. But ultimately, it mattered little.
It's just one change for a depleted Livingston after last week's goalless draw with Aberdeen.
Jason Holt comes into midfield as Steven Bradley drops to the bench.
James Penrice, Andrew Shinnie, Joel Nouble and Cristian Montano are all still missing so Livingston name just five substitutes.
Image source, BBC SportHearts will have Lawrence Shankland and Beni Baningime back from illness and Calem Nieuwenhof hopes to recover from a hamstring injury in time. Finlay Pollock is back in training while Craig Halkett and Peter Haring (both knee) and Liam Boyce (hamstring) remain out.
Livingston boss David Martindale is unlikely to be able to fill the bench again with the likes of James Penrice (hip), Andrew Shinnie (groin), Joel Nouble (ankle) and Cristian Montano (hamstring) struggling.
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNSJason Holt says the Livingston squad are fully aware that relegation from the top flight would result in job losses at the club.
David Martindale's side require an incredible comeback to beat the drop, trailing 11th-placed Ross County by nine points with six games to go.
“We know with the situation we are in, it is going to be extremely difficult, looking at the game so far this season," Holt said.
“But I have a a lot of belief in the squad, this is my fourth season here and that has been one of the biggest strengths in this squad, the fight in the team and that will continue.
“We know there is massive pressure, we all know the situation we find ourselves in, the prospect of potentially going down is not great, people lose jobs, we certainly don’t want that to happen so there is big pressure on us and expectation to keep the club in the league.
“It is extremely difficult to get that swing in points but while it is mathematically possible then the fight continues.”
Image source, Getty ImagesWhy should Scottish football fans care about Czech side Viktoria Plzen drawing with Italian heavyweights Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League?
The result on Thursday night has serious consequences for the Premiership, with the Czech Republic now having leapfrogged Scotland in the coefficient standings.
Not only will the winners of the top flight no longer gain automatic qualification to the Champions League from 2025/26, but there's also a knock on effect for those finishing further down the table.
