Livingston

Liam McLeod is joined by former Livingston captain and assistant manager Marvin Bartley and fan Stuart Barrie to review The Lions’ season so far.

• Listen and subscribe to the podcast here.

Livingston return to domestic action on Saturday, as they host Raith Rovers in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

What team would you select if you were in David Martindale's position?

Put yourself in the manager's shoes and pick your Livi XI here.

Image source, BBC Sport

The January window is a curious beast.

Notoriously tough to navigate, you never quite know what quality of player is going to stumble through the door and be thrust into the madness of a midway season. Sometimes, they're a revelation. Sometimes, they're rotten.

We're asking you to cast your mind back and tell us the best player Livingston signed in the winter window, and the January transfer that still gives you nightmares to this day.

Let us know.

We asked your views on the players Livingston signed in the summer now we are halfway through the season. Here's what some of you said:

Anon: The recruitment has been terrible. Aphelele Teto isn’t able to play. Mo Sangare rarely gets a game, as is the case with Miles Welch-Hayes. Danny Lloyd left after barely playing and Mikey Devlin seems uninspiring. I guess Michael Nottingham, despite his injuries and lack of fitness, seems the most solid squad member signed. Recruitment has been woeful though.

Matt: Genuinely hard to pick a "best" summer signing, if we're being honest. Mikey Devlin's early solidity has deserted him of late, and Michael Nottingham has had an injury-plagued time of it. The big mystery remains Aphelele Teto - Martindale has great hopes for this kid, but he'll have to be the second coming of Pele himself if we're to escape this...

Image source, BBC Sport

It hasn't been an easy season in West Lothian, to say the least.

With the January window now open, we're asking you to reflect on the dealings at the start of the season.

Who was Livingston's best new arrival this summer, and how have they made their impact on the team? What have their highlights during a tough campaign at Almondvale?

Let us know.

Stuart Barrie, Livingston fan

Season so far: 2/10

We’re at the bottom of league so that marks the season down so far. As well as being blunt in attack, our normally stoic defence has made some glaring errors that have leaked goals. Not scoring and conceding is a recipe for relegation.

Best player: James Penrice

Local lad James Penrice has been a standout in a team that’s not performed to the standards set previously. He offers so much defensively with his athleticism, and in attack with his strong running off the ball. Penrice has really grown in confidence this season and I think there’s a leader developing in him too. He gets what it takes to play at Livi and really cares. We need more like him.

Credit to Kurtis Guthrie as well. He wasn’t a first pick last season but this season we’ve needed all his battling qualities up front. So, so pleased to see him finally score recently too.

Most disappointing player: Take your pick!

The most obvious candidate is Joel Nouble, who has not performed to anything like the standards he set for himself last year. We all know what he’s capable of and sadly for him and the team he’s not been the same.

Fellow attacker Bruce Anderson hasn’t been the same threat either. Granted he’s had reduced minutes on the pitch but an attacker with his prowess should be scoring much more.

Manager rating: 7/10

I think David Martindale has done okay. We've been too direct too often and it's predictable for teams to work us out. We have good footballers so can mix it up a lot more.

There’s been a few odd calls like playing Nouble at right wing-back playing Cristian Montano at centre-half. Martindale has done brilliantly up until now so a bit of backing is more than due.

Predicted finish in table: 11th

This is maybe more hope and optimism but I think we have the players to get out of this awful spot. Not sure we’ll be that far up the table but if we get to a play-off I would fancy our chances against anyone.

Image source, SNS

It's been a pretty dreadful season so far for Livingston. Rock bottom of the Scottish Premiership with just two league wins, and a goal difference of -20 tells you all you need to know.

However, the underlying stats may provide some optimism for both manager David Martindale and the club's fans.

Livi have produced an xG value of 19.9 across their 21 league games, a figure significantly higher than the 12 goals they have scored. This shows they are creating opportunities; they are just struggling to stick them in the back of the net, as shown by their shot conversion rate, a paltry 6.3%.

Their underperformance is not just in attack. Livi have conceded 32 goals, five more than their expected goals against value of 27.

Should Livingston start performing more in line with their stats after the winter break and start taking their chances, Martindale will hope they can turn their fortunes around and climb up the league table.

Livingston manager David Martindale has wished Tom Parkes "nothing but success" after the defender signed for English side Hartlepool United.

The 31-year-old arrived in West Lothian in 2021, but made just 27 appearances for Livingston during an injury-hit stay.

With his contract expiring in the summer, the Englishman has taken the decision to return south of the border to be closer to his family.

“I wish Tom nothing but success," Martindale said. "His time at Livingston has been hampered by long term injuries which has been a real shame for both him and the club.

“He is a top, top professional and gives you everything every day and will be a huge miss around the club.

“I can’t speak highly enough of him as an individual and would never have stood in the way of him being able to be closer to his family.”

Image source, SNS

Manager David Martindale has given up social media to focus on Livingston's survival in the Scottish Premiership. (Sun), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip

Two sides at the wrong end of the table will lock horns 15 minutes later than originally scheduled as Motherwell's trip to Livingston has been selected for television coverage.

Live on Sky Sports, the potential basement battle will now kick-off at 8pm on Wednesday 28 February.

Livingston's last win game in this fixture back in October, when Lennon Miller's first-half red card helped David Martindale's team on their way.

Stuart Kettlewell's men will also be on the box three days earlier, as they welcome Celtic to Fir Park for a noon showdown on Sunday 25 February.

The Steelmen will be looking to avenge their dramatic loss to the league leaders earlier in the season, when Blair Spittal's 95th-minute equaliser wasn't enough to seal a point thanks to a Matt O'Riley winner on 97 minutes.

Image source, SNS

Livingston have enquired about Hearts midfielder Andy Halliday. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip

Image source, SNS

It didn't take Tete Yengi long to get going at Livingston - after signing just two days ago he made a strong first impression coming off the bench against Hearts.

He has given fans a taste of what to expect from him after the winter break - saying despite being 6ft 5in tall, his height isn't his biggest attribute.

"I'm very good technically with the ball," he told the club's media team, external.

"I know coming here I will need to work on the other side of my game and I spoke with the gaffer [David Martindale] about working hard and giving everything for the team.

"Of course that's what I'm going to do, bring all my abilities that I have to the team.

"This has definitely been a league I've been looking at. I know there are some top teams in this league.

"It's a good stepping stone in my career. When I spoke to the coach and had a look around I was excited. I'm happy to be here."

Image source, SNS

Andrew Shinnie believes Livingston can survive the drop if they show the same desire they did against Hearts - despite David Martindale's side losing 2-1.

"It was a good performance, very disappointing we didn't take anything from it, we definitely deserved it but if you can take positives, if we play like that every week we'll have a chance, just the desire and the hunger that was missing in the last game which cost us," Shinnie told Livingston Football Club, external.

"We had a discussion after the Motherwell game, I sort of said a bit myself, it's up to me as a senior player as well to keep on top of that and probably haven't been as much as we should at times recently.

"We had a good chat, a few things said between each other and the last few days have been much better.

"We've got a break now and we'll work really hard as the managers just said, everyone on board and graft, in the next couple of weeks, we'll graft and be ready and if we can keep playing like that we'll definitely give ourselves a chance.

"There's still half a season left and I've always just got a belief in the team that we can turn it around.

"We've got a good group and when we play like that it just shows we're capable, but we have to do it every day, give ourselves the best chance.

"If we do that and whatever happens, we can look at ourselves in the mirror and accept it, but as long as we're doing everything right, training properly, applying ourselves on matchdays and give ourselves the best opportunity, that's all we can do.

"If everyone sticks together and rallies around each other, we'll get out of it."

Defender Luiyi de Lucas has left Livingston, after requesting to terminate his contract due to homesickness.

The 29-year-old Dominican Republic international was in contract until the summer.

“Luiyi came and spoke to me a few weeks back and stressed that he was struggling with homesickness and was missing being with his family," manager David Martindale said.

“We agreed that Luiyi would continue until the winter break as to not leave us short in the last few weeks before agreeing to terminate his contract to allow him to return closer to home and family.

“I wish Luiyi well wherever his next move is and thank him for his time at the club.”

Image source, SNS

Shaun Donnellan is looking forward to "cracking on" with Livingston as the versatile defender finally joins Livingston.

The 27-year-old, who was a Republic of Ireland under-21 international, signs on a two-and-a-half year deal from English National League South side, Torquay United, where Martindale has monitored him since the summer.

"I'm delighted. It's been a long time coming, so it's brilliant and I'm just glad to crack on now," he said.

"We need to start picking up points and getting results, here's hoping we can do that.

"If we knuckle down and work hard, hopefully we can get out of this.

"I bring versatility - I can play centre-half, right-back, centre-mid and right-wing back - so a lot of options and hopefully I can just give my all."

Image source, .

Close, but no cigar. Did that performance encourage you, Livingston fans?

Which players do you need to stay up? And which players would you happily drive to another club?

Let us know your thoughts.

Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport Scotland

Livingston weren't far away from earning a point, but you have to think that if this was any other manager, at any other club, they would be out the door.

Martindale's side have picked up two points since 21 October, and appear to be careering toward relegation, but the manager is trusted to fix this problem in January. If anyone can do it at this club, it's probably him.

They were better today. They carried a real threat up top and didn't often allow Hearts to play much football.

But they were too weak at the back. They conceded a penalty and let Hearts in behind too often, liable to getting cut open by one ball.

Image source, SNS

Kurtis Guthrie. Singled out for praise by manager David Martindale, he was a nightmare for the three-man Hearts defence who could not beat him in the air.

He was unlucky that his goal didn't stand, just an inch or two offside. If they can get him firing, he has the potential to help save them.