Livingston

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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David Gray has warned Hibs not to underestimate struggling Livingston as his side look to reclaim third place on Saturday.

Hibs were leapfrogged by Rangers after losing to the Ibrox side in midweek and now face bottom club Livingston, who they have beaten 2-0 away and 4-0 at home this season.

"Those two results are irrelevant. I think this league shows you that anyway, look how tight it is," said head coach Gray.

"Going to Livingston, what challenges that has, the astroturf is something else that we don't play on every single week, so you need to contend with that. It's certainly not an excuse. The players are ready for it.

"They have been there already this season, so it's not completely new. That's a big thing. Davie [Martindale] will have the team ready to go. They always are. It'll be a tough fixture.

"They'll be looking for a reaction from the last time they played them, we're well aware of that.

"We know the challenges it presents but we see it as an opportunity to end the week with three points.

"If we can do that, we move back into third and that's our only focus going into the game."

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David Martindale is hoping Livingston can capitalise on Hibernian's request to play his side within three days of hosting Rangers.

Saturday's rescheduled Scottish Premiership meeting in West Lothian was initially due to take place on Wednesday, 3 December.

But, with Hibs and Livi facing the prospect of a free weekend due to the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals, the Edinburgh club asked if it could be brought forward in order to ease their busy winter schedule.

Martindale, whose side had no game in midweek while Hibs were losing 1-0 at home to Rangers, was only too willing to oblige.

"Hibs came to us and offered us the schedule, so if you look at the fact Hibs were playing Rangers on Wednesday night, it's a bit of a no-brainer if a team comes to us to play within 48 hours of another game when we've had the benefit of having a Saturday to Saturday," the manager said.

Livingston sit bottom of the table without a win in nine outings and must make the most of any small advantage.

"They've got a big squad," Martindale said of Saturday's fourth-top visitors. "They obviously think they're more than capable of picking points up, albeit they've had a big game on Wednesday night, so the thinking behind it for us was it was a good time to try and play them.

"Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday is not a fixture schedule I like. It's not a game I would have been asking to play if we had a game on the Wednesday night and the opponent never had a game on the Saturday, so we need to try and use that to our advantage."

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• Livingston have won just one and lost five of their past seven league meetings with Hibs (D1), with that sole triumph coming in August 2023 (3-2).

• Hibs have lost just one of their past 10 Scottish Premiership games against newly-promoted sides (W6 D3), a 3-2 defeat at Dundee United in October 2024. They have already beaten Livingston this season, winning 4-0 last month.

• Livingston won their opening home game this season, 3-1 vs Falkirk, but have lost all three since 2-1. Livi last lost more consecutive home matches in the same Scottish Premiership season between December 2005 and March 2006 (run of five).

• Hibs have lost two of their past four Scottish Premiership matches (W2), as many as across their previous 28 league outings (W14 D12) – Hibs last lost back-to-back league games in November 2024.

• Hibs forward Junor Hoilett has scored half of his eight Premiership goals against Livingston (4) and has been directly involved in six goals in just three league appearances against Livi (2 goals, 2 assists for Aberdeen, 2 goals for Hibs). The only player to be involved in more against the same opponent since the Canadian debuted in the competition in February 2024 is Kyogo Furuhashi vs St Johnstone (7).

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Livingston manager David Martindale addressed the media before Saturday's Scottish Premiership meeting with Hibs.

Here are the key points:

• Assistant Brian Rice will take in Hibs' Wednesday fixture at home to Rangers.

• Martindale believes "you pretty much fancy Hibs" in most of the Easter Road side's fixtures this season.

• Not having a midweek game gives Livi "a slight advantage" on Saturday.

• The manager believes "three or four players" at Hibs and "three, four, five, six players" at Hearts are good enough to play for Celtic and Rangers and says the Edinburgh clubs "are really, really strong", making for "an exciting league".

• Martindale feels Livi have suffered from a lack of experienced players in recent times, including injured captain Ryan McGowan, but believes the team are "not a million miles away". Martindale does not expect McGowan back until after the November international break.

• The Livi boss was "probably" surprised by Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers' resignation and does not believe the Premiership title race is over.

• Last Saturday's 2-1 loss to Motherwell had "one big, big moment that's avoidable", with MacAulay Tait penalised for a handball when Livingston led.

• Martindale describes the Premiership as "unforgiving" and Livi's points return as "harsh".

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

The added-time goal curse strikes again for Livingston.

We could have beaten Motherwell or got at least a draw but it's a familiar story when the clock goes past 90.

We concede a killer goal and it sucks the life out of everyone in the stadium of a Livi persuasion.

The performance was good. We played well against the team pundits were saying are playing their best ever football.

We moved the ball quickly, defended strongly when we needed to and had a good threat.

The defence did have a makeshift feel with a debut, return from injury and full-back in at centre back but they all did their jobs well for 90 minutes. It's the bit after the 90 that is our undoing.

You could feel the manager's frustration in his interviews. The players are performing for him but those fine margins, particularly when that now dreaded board is raised to show how long is being added on, is where we seem to lose it.

As for some fans calling for David Martindale to go for, this is absurd. Plain daft.

We may be bottom but we're playing well. The results will come, we just need to keep doing what we're doing - but do it for at least 95 minutes every game.

Watch Sportscene analysis of the penalty incidents in Motherwell's 2-1 victory at Livingston

Watch highlights from Motherwell's dramatic victory at Livingston in the Scottish Premiership.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Motherwell's late goal at Livingston is the latest sucker-punch in a "soul destroying" run for David Martindale's side, says BBC Scotland pundit Stephen Craigan.

Despite going a goal up in the first half, Livingston were pegged back by Motherwell in the second period before Elijah Just scored the winning goal for the visitors in stoppage time.

The defeat leaves the West Lothian club bottom of the Premiership after 10 games.

"I feel a little bit sorry for them because that's the fourth time this season they've conceded in 90-plus minutes and that can be soul destroying," former Motherwell defender Craigan told BBC Scotland.

"But that's the difference from stepping up from Championship to Premiership. Players are a little bit quicker, they're a little bit stronger. They're a little bit more ruthless, they're better with the ball and technically, they're better.

"You have to make sure you defend well and you try to see games out, and they haven't managed to do it.

"So it'll hurt them for a few days, but they've been here before. They've been in this movie. How do we change it? How do we stop it? They just probably need a win somewhere. Probably a bit like Motherwell, they just needed a win.

"They just needed to try to change the direction or the narrative of not seeing games out or picking up points. Once they do that, then they may grow from it.

"They're still well in the mix. They're not getting cut adrift, but the longer it goes, that negative momentum can affect the players' mentally."

Elijah Just provided a dramatic moment of inspiration as his injury-time winner earned Motherwell a thrilling last-gasp Scottish Premiership win over Livingston.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say here.

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Livingston manager David Martindale told BBC Scotland: "It's really raw. A late goal, dropped points. That's three times we've done that at home. I'm disappointed in the manner of the goals we've lost.

"The first is a poor individual decision. The second one is a ball we don't need to play, and we've just got lucky from the offside goal moments before. I don't understand it. There's a level of naivety, and it's up to me to try and address that.

"Players that have made mistakes and bad errors are having to learn on the job. There's a lot in the performance that I'm quite happy with. We got to grips with the game and we deserved the lead at half-time.

"Second half, we started okay. We have to look after the ball a bit better in the final third. The two goals we lose are really disappointing.

"I felt sorry for the players because there's a lot of good performances within that. Our metrics will be decent, all that physical stuff was there. It's just a bit of naivety that hurt us.

"We're probably everybody's relegation favourites. I know we've got enough to keep ourselves in this league. This season is all about stability and trying to keep the team in the Premiership. It's our only aim this season, but it is difficult to do that.

"We need to listen to the inner circle and not listen to the noise."

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David Martindale has made four Livingston changes from last weekend's disappointing 4-0 defeat at Hibernian.

There's a debut for Joshua Brenet, who plays at right-back, while Robbie Muirhead, Macaulay Tait and Cristian Montano also come in.

31-year-old Brenet is a former Netherlands international, who now plays for Curucao, and has enjoyed spells at PSV Eindhoven, Hoffenheim and Twente.

Shane Blaney, Man City loanee Mahamadou Susoho, Connor McLennan and Adam Montgomery all drop out.

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Livingston are set to hand a debut to Joshua Brenet, while Danny Wilson and Lewis Smith are expected to shake off knocks.

But Shane Blaney and Adam Montgomery will miss out and Connor McLennan is likely to sit out the game with a head knock. Cammy Kerr (ankle), Ryan McGowan (illness) and Aidan Denholm (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.

Motherwell have Callum Slattery back in their squad, leaving long-term absentees Sam Nicholson, Filip Stuparevic (both knee), Eseosa Sule, Jordan McGhee (both thigh) and Zach Robinson (Achilles) as the only players missing.

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Joshua Brenet believes Livingston can help him realise his World Cup dreams.

Brenet, 31, could make his Livingston debut against Motherwell on Saturday having signed as a free agent earlier this month.

He made two appearances at international level for the Netherlands but switched allegiances to Curacao, who have a winner-takes-all clash against Jamaica next month.

Brenet now hopes playing in Scotland can provide a springboard to reach the World Cup with Dick Advocaat's side.

"When I finished in Qatar, I was without a club," Brenet said. "I had a conversation with the coach from the national team. He said he needed me, but it's also important that I get my rhythm back, that I get games.

"This was very important for me. Next month we have two very important games, it's going to make or break us to go to the World Cup.

"If it's possible that we're going to go to the World Cup, it's important that I have as many games as possible.

"It's everybody's dream. This is the only thing that I didn't achieve until now in my career. I achieved almost everything that you can imagine as a football player.

"It's every player's dream to play for your national team and to go to play at a big tournament like the World Cup."

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• Livingston have won just one of their past 14 league meetings with Motherwell (D4 L9), a 2-0 victory in October 2023.

• Motherwell have only lost one of their past seven league visits to Livingston (W3 D3), winning their latest 3-1 in February 2024.

• Livingston's Scottish Premiership games this season have featured more goals (28 – 10 for, 18 against) than any other side.

• Motherwell have lost more points from winning positions in the

• Premiership this season (12) than any other side, losing both of their past two league games despite leading each time.

• Against Falkirk last time out, Tawanda Maswanhise scored his 10th league goal for Motherwell. Aged 22 years and 332 days, he was the youngest player to reach double figures for league goals for the club since Allan Campbell in March 2020 (21y 244d), and youngest non-Scottish player since Henrik Ojamaa in April 2013 (21y 334d).

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Livingston are set to face ongoing disruption to their defence before Saturday's Premiership clash with Motherwell.

Defenders Danny Wilson, Shane Blaney and Adam Montgomery all went off injured in last weekend's 4-0 defeat by Hibernian, while winger Connor McLennan suffered a concussion.

Winger Lewis Smith missed the game along with defender Ryan McGowan and long-term absentees Cammy Kerr and Aidan Denholm.

Speaking on his side's recent injury woes Manager David Martindale said: "Wee Smithy has been out running so he should be okay for Saturday and I think Danny Wilson should be OK. Shane Blaney is a wee bit longer and potentially Adam Montgomery is a wee bit longer and it might be a wee bit too soon for Connor.

"Ryan has been in on Monday and Tuesday. He lost a wee bit of weight, but he is now back up to nearly where he was before he went into hospital. He has been out for a week now."

For Martindale, the lack of a consistent back line has made things more difficult.

The newly-promoted outfit are bottom of the Premiership with one win from nine matches.

"It's been hard to get continuity," the manager said. "Centre-back pairings have changed, full-backs have changed. It's not been ideal, it seems to be in the defensive line that lads are picking up a lot of injuries.

"Cammy Kerr came back and did his ankle in training. He is probably going to be another two weeks."

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

I can't get over the defeat against Hibernian. It was a sore one.

The scoreline looked emphatic and Hibs were the better team by a distance in the second half, but it's also fair to say we competed okay in the first.

At 2-0 down, if we had managed to get a goal then you never know how it would have finished.

That said, we didn't trouble the keeper enough and the Hibs subs added an extra threat we couldn't cope with, so 4-0 it was.

Our guys didn't have a howler, Hibs were just better on the day.

They'll beat bigger teams than us with that scoreline this season, I'd wager.

In the Championship, you could win a game even if you weren't in top gear. In the Premiership you need every player to be at least a seven or eight out of 10 to get anything.

I have to take exception to a few comments on Sportscene, which indicated that Livi were miles off it this season.

We took a hammering in this game but we've had points snatched from us by Rangers and Hearts with last-minute goals.

We've had creditable draws at Dundee United and Aberdeen as well as taking our customary three points from the pundits' favourite team, Falkirk.

Perhaps the points aren't on the board but the performances are decent and the manager has found a good way to approach games, where we can attack without leaving ourselves open.

Results over the weekend mean we are bottom of the league. No one wants to be there at any time but if we get a win against Motherwell, another team the pundits are falling over themselves to praise, then we go above them.

It's all to play for.

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss how Livingston have made themselves "hard to beat" despite a 4-0 defeat to Hibs.

Watch highlights as Hibs ease past Livingston in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your thoughts after Livingston's 4-0 defeat to Hibs.

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

Del: Players need to work on their concentration, effort and cohesion. Do that and Livi stay up. The responsibility remains with the players for the rest of their careers. Playing with too much constraint, let their talents loose within the team

Thomas: Not sure why Robbie Muirhead, a talisman last season, can't get into the team. Hope the team selection settles down in the weeks to come to help build some momentum so we don't end up marooned at the foot of the table

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Livingston manager David Martindale: "Architects of our own downfall. We lose a goal on eight minutes from poor decision-making. We had started the game ok, but we're lucky to go in 1-0 down at half-time.

"Hibs exploited our left-hand channel. We changed shape and the [enforced] substitutions didn't help to be fair. We had to put a patchwork defence together.

"Then first five minutes [of the second half] we make a terrible decision. Cris [Montano] makes a really really poor decision [for the penalty]. And at that point the game is gone.

"Our sole aim is to make sure we're in the Premiership next year. That's it, the sole aim. I know we've got the staff and players capable of doing that.

"I think the year out was brilliant for us and a good reset. But coming back up we've got to lay the foundations to be a sustainable Premiership club."

Record signing Thibault Klidje inspired Hibernian to a first home win of the season as they hammered Livingston in the Scottish Premiership.

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