Livingston

Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland

Given their respective poor runs and what was at stake, it was a credit to both teams that they attacked the game and produced an entertaining match.

After hinting his time may be up following Saturday's defeat at Dundee, David Martindale then said he would "come out swinging" and keep fighting to keep Livingston in the league, his biggest challenge yet in his nearly four years in charge.

Twice coming from behind and the intensity of this performance suggest his players are with him on that, and they created enough opportunities to win this.

The problem is they still look short in both boxes. Simon Murray's second goal came as a result of defenders completely missing a cross and leaving the striker unmarked at the back post.

And up the other end they were profligate. Whether the manager can come up some signings before Thursday's transfer deadline remains to be seen, given his repeated comments about having little budget to work with, while also struggling to attract players to a struggling side.

After a potential move to Exeter City failed to materialise, forward Joel Nouble is back in the starting XI for Livi against Ross County.

Scott Pittman and Kurtis Guthrie are also fit again and start. Jamie Brandon is the other change from the defeat by Dundee.

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Livingston supporters are "right" to have doubts over David Martindale given their alarming run of form, says Euan Rankie of the Talk Livi Podcast.

The Lions fan expressed concern over the messaging sent by the Almondvale boss' comments in recent interviews, despite declaring his support for the manager.

"Any manager in football would be struggling to keep a hold of their job at this point in time," Rankie told BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "I think the fans are right to question whether he is the right person for the gig at this moment in time.

"I'm still fully behind the manager. Whether he can turn it around this season or no - I doubt [that] given the fact that he's talked about how we've not got the budget to bring in players, we're shopping in Primark, that comment and then he's come out the other day and talked about [the fact] he's got money to bring in players but nobody wants to come.

"It just doesn't set a very good, positive attitude going into the remainder of the season in the position that we're in. We're six points adrift depending on the result tonight, could be nine.

"So yes, I would say still in the job regardless of what happens this season but I can absolutely understand why any fan would be questioning it because as I say, winning less than 14% of your games over a 12-month period just doesn't set a very positive attitude going into the remainder of the season."

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Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport Scotland

Andrew Shinnie admits Livingston have "aired a few things out" as they search for a way to end their form of 13 winless league games.

The latest game on that run saw the West Lothian side fall to a 4-1 loss against Dundee at home - a defeat which left the dressing room feeling extremely low.

"It was a tough changing room," Shinnie said. "We weren’t trying to spread any positivity, it was just a real down changing room. We had a meeting on Sunday morning and aired a few things out and realised we have to move on because there's another game on Tuesday and it's a massive one.

"We said come in Monday morning clear-headed, all focus on Ross County game and try and pick up the three points."

David Martindale has been honest in his appraisal of the squad, admitting some players have been told to find new clubs if they aren't up for the fight.

"I’ve seen it loads of times. I've been part of that in my career as well. It can be tough for a manager and for players. It's difficult just to remove them out of the club and they're human beings as well. You don't want to be nasty to them and treat them badly.

"We have good lads. Most of the lads are good lads. Obviously, some have moved on and it's probably opened up a bit of money for the manager.

"Whether he can put that to good use before the window shuts, we'll see. Hopefully, he can bring in a few bodies and just bring a bit of freshness to the squad."

Stuart Barrie, Livingston fan

"We’re in the Championship at this rate".

The words of manager David Martindale after our latest humbling, this time at the hands of Premiership newcomers Dundee.

The majority of Livi fans have been thinking the same for weeks now. There was a subdued acceptance of our fate as we all trudged away after the 4-1 defeat to the Dens Park side.

Previously there had been a fair bit of vitriol from the stands after defeats, but things were pretty quiet as we slopped out of the Tony Macaroni Arena.

Davie’s press conferences leading up to the game talked about changes and resetting, so there was a freshness to the team selection. Initially, it paid off.

We played some of the best football I’ve seen from us in weeks. There was a couple of good early chances that, had we converted, a different result would have been a distinct possibility.

We’ll skip over missing ANOTHER penalty, as our conversion rate is getting beyond belief. Daft individual errors (again) cost us dearly. I think the worst one was scoring and then literally seconds after that goal, letting Dundee score again in an entirely preventable manner. Crazy.

There was plenty of effort from the players, they may be low on confidence but there was a determination there I liked. It just couldn’t be converted into anything meaningful in terms of goals. We’ll need all that determination and more to save our season.

We play fellow strugglers Ross County this week. It’s a must win, anything else and we’ll have more than one foot in the championship. We’ll be all but down.

Hearts are targeting Livingston's James Penrice and Charlton's Scott Fraser as well as Dhanda in a triple swoop in the last 24 hours of the transfer window. (Scottish Sun)

Livingston defender Penrice has held talks with Hearts about a summer move to Tynecastle when his contract expires. (Edinburgh Evening News)

Read the rest of Tuesday's gossip.

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Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport Scotland

Joel Nouble remains a Livingston player for the time being as manager David Martindale said Exeter City "wasted his time" in their pursuit of the striker.

Nouble was left out for the visit of Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup two weekends ago as a move to the English League One side seemed imminent.

However, he came off the bench in the loss to Dundee on Saturday, and now Martindale expects him to play a part in the second half of the season.

"I'm going to knock that one in the head," the Livingston boss said. "I think my time's been wasted, if I'm honest. Joel's time's been wasted.

"We weren’t a million miles away. It was minimal at best, and there's not even been another conversation. It’s a waste of time. Big Noobs on Saturday, I think you can see he's up for the fight. I thought he looked back to his old self."

Nouble is yet to score in the league this season and Martindale said leaving the 28-year-old out was for his own good.

"At no point has Joel gone on that park, not to try. But if you're getting told there's a chance you're getting a move and you pick up an injury and it might not happen, it's going to play a certain part in your psyche going into that game.

"Players will always tell you it doesn't, and I do believe they genuinely believe that, but I don't believe that. I think it's difficult for players, when there's a lot of noise around them, to actually apply themselves properly.

"At this point in time, Joel Nouble’s a Livingston player. I'm delighted he's a Livingston player and I thought he did very well when he went on, on Saturday."

Michael Devlin, Kurtis Guthrie and Scott Pittman trained on Monday after missing Livingston's last game and could feature on Tuesday. Joel Nouble remains a Livi player after a proposed move to Exeter City did not materialise. Jack Hamilton and Cristian Montano remain sidelined.

Ross County captain Jack Baldwin is free from suspension but has been carrying a knock. Scott Allardice, Ross Callachan, Ryan Leak and Dylan Smith miss out injured.

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• Livingston have only lost one of their six top-flight home games against Ross County (W4 D1), going down 0-1 in October 2022.

• Livingston and Ross County share an even record over their last seven league meetings, both winning twice each, drawing the other three, and scoring seven goals each in those seven games.

• Livingston are without a win in their last nine midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (D4 L5) since a 2-1 win over Aberdeen in November 2022.

• Ross County have never lost an away top-flight league match on a Tuesday in seven previous such outings (W3 D4), keeping five clean sheets in these fixtures.

• Ross County’s Simon Murray has scored in two of his three Scottish Premiership appearances against Livingston, including one at the Tony Macaroni Arena in March last season.

Image source, BBC Sport

Could David Martindale have been using some mind games with the aim of deflecting the pressure off his players?

It's a possibility according to former Livingston striker Lee Miller, who told the Scottish Football Podcast that the manager's post-match comments at the weekend "didn't look great".

Miller said: "I've got a lot of time and respect for Davie and he's done a fantastic job there.

"The interview the other day didn't look great. But knowing Davie and knowing he's a very, very clever man, he's maybe thrown that out there to try and relieve the pressure from his players.

"If he's saying, 'listen, that's us done, we're down', going out and playing with freedom - sometimes that can work in your favour. Maybe he's trying to play a wee bit of reverse psychology.

"I don't know, but it did look a bit defeatist in his interview but, we'll see what happens.

"He's finding it difficult to recruit players by the sounds of it. Who wants to get involved in a relegation battle? It's a tough gig to try and recruit players to come and battle and fight for your corner."

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Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport Scotland

David Martindale cut a resolute figure as he declared his commitment to Livingston and their fight for Premiership survival.

The manager had sounded dejected after their weekend defeat to Dundee, admitting he faced a "conundrum" over his future with the club six points adrift at the foot of the table.

But the Livi boss now insists he will remain in position unless the club ask him to step aside.

"As soon as I got back in my car, I was ready to go again," Martindale said. "I'm going to come out swinging. We're going to keep fighting up until matchday 38.

"That's what I'm all about. I'm not about jumping ship. I'd feel like a bit of a coward if I was to up sticks and leave. I speak about the collective and we're all in it together - what would that say about my character and my personality if I was just to up sticks and leave?"

"To caveat that, if I thought that would keep us in the Premiership, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But do I genuinely think it's going to have [that impact]? No, I don't."

Martindale also spoke of the huge toll that the current form - 13 league matches without a win - has had on the club.

"The players and the staff are at this club are going through a huge period of adversity. It's amazing what it does to the group, that continued accumulation of negativity. It's got a huge effect on you personally.

"But it's my job to come in, motivate, keep the positivity, keep the energy. I'll come in and I'll make sure we go on that part tomorrow night and we're going out to get three points and we're going out there to fight.

"Win, lose or draw, I'm going to come back into my work on Wednesday morning, and I'm going to do it again."

It's a huge, huge game for David Martindale and Livingston.

After another deflating defeat at the weekend, the Lions have the opportunity to cut the gap to Ross County when Derek Adams' side travel to West Lothian in Tuesday.

Who would you like to see in the starting line-up? Pick your team here.

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Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport Scotland

Livingston manager David Martindale has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's huge basement battle with Ross County on Tuesday.

Here are the key lines...

• Adamant he is staying in position, unless the club tell him otherwise. It comes after he admitted he'd walk away "in a heartbeat" if he felt it would save his side from relegation.

• However, he says walking away would make him a "coward" and insists he is up for the fight.

• Frustrated with Exeter City who “wasted his time” with Joel Nouble interest. The striker remains a Livingston player and Martindale says he would have included him in the squad if not for Exeter talks.

• No interest in making loan signings. Needs a first-team player and it’s “extremely” difficult.

• Still aggrieved with VAR from the weekend's defeat to Dundee. Bemoans spending "hundreds of thousands of pounds" while still not getting the "correct decisions".

Image source, BBC Sport

We asked you for your views after Livingston's 4-1 home defeat by Dundee and fans were blunt in their assessment of manager David Martindale and his side:

Malky: The Championship gets closer. That's the reality after another dismal display. Pains me to say it, but it's painful to watch.

Anon: Tactics are wrong or non-existent. Too many players are just turning up for a wage when we require them to play for the shirt.

Blair: Get him out man.

14 games without a league win.

What's your take on today's performance, Livi fans?

Have your say here.

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Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Scotland: "I am conscious that I am the leader of the group. It's not good enough. We are away. We are in the Championship next season at this rate.

"It's not good enough from me. I think I have got to take responsibility. It lies with me. I genuinely believed we could get the club out of this situation. I'm not looking for excuses to blame it on individual players.

"I'm not a quitter. I don't want to walk out on the players or the staff. But I have to take responsibility. That's the conundrum I am in. I don't walk away from fights, we are in a fight."