Livingston

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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".

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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."

Cam Wanstall, BBC Sport Scotland

Livingston's miserable winless league run continues despite last weekend's rare victory in the Scottish Cup.

David Martindale discussed a change of shape pre-match and it appeared to have the desired effect - for almost 20 minutes at least before Amadou Bakayoko slammed home the opener.

Livingston failed to get forward enough to support Bruce Anderson in attack until desperate gung-ho attacking substitutions were made.

These changes momentarily forced a couple of errors from an overwhelmed Dundee defence. Amateurish defending of their own handed Dundee the victory on a plate, however, once the visitors settled following Luke McCowan's red card.

David Martindale makes wholesale changes to the Livingston side that defeated Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup. The seven changes include full debuts for two new signings - goalkeeper Michael McGovern and defender Shaun Donnellan, who replace Shamal George and Jamie Brandon.

Ayo Obileye returns from injury and James Penrice replaces sidelined full-back Cristian Montano in defence. Steven Bradley and Daniel MacKay - who grabbed the match-winner last weekend - start on the flanks, while Bruce Anderson leads the line in place of Kurtis Guthrie.

Joel Nouble, left out of Martindale's matchday squad versus Raith Rovers due to "interest from down south", makes the bench.

• Follow our live coverage

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Livingston: McGovern, Donnellan, Nottingham, Obileye, Penrice, Holt, Kelly, Bradley, Shinnie, MacKay, Anderson.

Substitutes: George, Brandon, Nouble, Sangare, Kelly, Yengi, Ledingham, Culbert, Samson.

Dundee: Sharp, Shaughnessy, Ashcroft, McGhee, Costello, Sylla, Robertson, McCowan, Dodgson, Tiffoney, Bakayoko.

Substitutes: Legzdins, Astley, Main, Cameron, Mulligan, Robinson, Howley, Boateng, Mellon.

Livingston will be without Jack Hamilton and Cristian Montano. Tete Yengi and Ayo Obileye are likely to return after recent injuries while captain Michael Devlin is expected to be fit despite going off last weekend.

Dundee have signed Burnley striker Michael Mellon on loan while midfielder Luke McCowan has shaken off the tight hamstring he experienced against Hearts. Cammy Kerr and Zak Rudden have left in loan moves. Aaron Donnelly, Ricki Lamie, Diego Pineda and Antonio Portales remain out.

Did you know? Livingston have 12 wins in league meetings with Dundee, half the number of Dundee's tally.

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Michael McGovern is determined to break into the Livingston starting XI after "frustrating" spells at Norwich City and Hearts.

The 39-year-old signed for the West Lothian side earlier this month on loan from Hearts to provide competition for Shamal George in the Livingston goal.

McGovern last played a competitive game in February 2022 - an FA Cup tie for Norwich - and insists he is not content to be a back-up goalkeeper for the rest of his career.

“I’ve got some stiff competition with the other goalkeepers but I’ve come here to try and get in the team and play,” he said.

“At Hearts, I wasn’t playing and recently I haven’t even been on the bench because Craig Gordon’s back fit so this is a better opportunity for me here.

“It’s been difficult. At Norwich, I was going in every day trying to get in the team, same at Hearts. I wasn’t just happy to pick up my wages, I wanted to contribute.

“But it’s hard sometimes as a goalkeeper because only one can play. In my last season at Norwich I was up against Angus Gunn, a Scotland international, and Tim Krul, a Holland international.

“And then I went to Hearts and I was up against Craig and Zander Clark, two Scotland internationals, so it’s been tough. It’s been frustrating not to play because I’m desperate to play and contribute to a team and get that feeling back on a Saturday so that’s my aim here.”

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• After winning three consecutive matches against Dundee between January and May 2022, Livingston have since lost each of their last two against the Dee, failing to score in both matches (0-2 & 0-1).

• Dundee won their last league visit to Livingston (2-0, October 2023) and are looking to make it consecutive such wins on the road against them for the first time since May 2019.

• Livingston have failed to win any of their last six league matches at home (D2 L4), last going on a longer winless streak at home in the top-flight between May and November 2005 (run of nine).

• Dundee have only won one of their last seven league games (D2 L4), and could lose back-to-back Scottish Premiership matches for the first time this season, after losing 3-2 to Hearts last time out.

• Livingston are the lowest scorers in the Scottish Premiership this season, netting just 12 times from 21 matches and drawing a blank in 12 different matches, more than any other team.

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Dylan Bahamboula has left Livingston after the club reached an agreement with the midfielder to end his spell at Tony Macaroni Arena early.

The 28-year-old signed a two-year deal with the option of a third when he joined in July 2022.

Bahamboula arrived in West Lothian after his contract at Oldham expired.

Livingston return to league action when they host Dundee at Almondvale on Saturday.

David Martindale will be looking to build on his side's Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers last time out, but who would you pick to start if you were in the manager's shoes.

Choose your Livi XI here.

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Livi manager David Martindale hopes to make three new signings before the end of the January transfer window, but revealed Cristian Montano will be out for a month through injury.

Martindale's side, who are six points adrift at the foot of the cinch Premiership, have already recruited striker Tete Yengi, defender Shaun Donnellan and goalkeeper Michael McGovern this month.

“I think I am close (to adding) but whether I am or not is another matter,” he said. “I’ve lost out on a hell of a lot of players and we’re getting to the stage in the window when I’m probably (going to) have to push the button and get two or three in.

“There are still loads of options coming into us. Ideally, I’d like to bring three in.

“I’m working on one as we speak and I’m probably looking for closure on another on Thursday and then I’m still looking at four or five other options in an offensive area.”

Montano was forced off in the first half of Saturday’s Scottish Cup victory at home to Raith Rovers, and Martindale will be without the Colombian until late February.

“Cristian’s been really injury-prone since he came here, he’s had a lot of problems with his hamstring,” said the manager.

“I feel for him because he’s a really nice human being, he’s really positive around the place, but he seems to get himself in the team then pick up a knock or niggle.

“This one looks a bit more serious so he’s probably going to be out for the next four weeks at best.”