Livingston

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Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Scotland: "First half, we weren't at it. Toothless. We try to get the reaction and we manage to get back in the game. I thought the boys were magnificent.

"I was going to change it back to the four, take the point and go back down the road. I thought we had the momentum. Maybe I should have changed the shape back. Hindsight's a great thing in football, isn't it?

"I thought we were really fortunate to get the first goal in terms of the VAR decision.

"I think there's enough character or spirit. We'll keep swinging and fighting until it's mathematically impossible. We've got that hill to climb again, which I think we're more than capable of doing.

"We need to regroup and go again. We can't change anything. I think they showed enough fighting spirit in the second half. Our game management has got to be better.

"It's a difficult one to lose late on, but that's football. If I was to dwell on previous games, you'd be in a dark place. I'll make sure the players that go on that park on Wednesday night are capable of taking three points because that's what we need to do."

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Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland

This is a savage blow for David Martindale and his players. Buoyed by a first win in 17 league games last week, the manager spoke of positive momentum.

That will have somewhat evaporated with this result, although six points is far from insurmountable.

Bruce Anderson's introduction at half-time almost got them a point as he netted two classic striker's goals. The first, just two minutes after the restart, was a low first-time finish by Wickens.

It was his first in the league since October, but he did not have to wait long for another as he controlled Tete Yengi's pass and again drove the ball into the net.

The second came from just one touch and another low shot into the net just four minutes from the end.

But unlike Livingston sides in previous seasons, they have a habit of making games open and frantic.

This time, they were punished. Although, there was a split second when everyone in the ground thought they'd grabbed a last-ditch equaliser.

But Sean Kelly's powerful volley had smashed the side netting.

Unsurprisingly, Livingston go with the same XI that started the win against St Mirren.

Goalkeeper Jack Hamilton is back on the bench, as is full-back Cristian Montano.

Livingston: George, Brandon, Nottingham, Obileye, Sangare, Shinnie, Carson, Holt, Nouble, Stephen Kelly, Yengi.

Substitutes: Hamilton, Montano, Devlin, Anderson, MacKay, Sean Kelly, Guthrie.

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Livingston are still "buzzing" from last weekend's win over St Mirren, says goalkeeper Shamal George.

David Martindale's side grabbed their first win since October with a 1-0 victory last Saturday that has them three points behind this weekend's opponents Ross County.

“We’ve obviously got Ross County, St Johnstone and Motherwell, three teams around us," George said.

"One game at a time but it’s a good time to try to bring teams back into it with us.

“Even though we haven’t been playing great lately I feel like Partick was a turnaround for us and fingers crossed we can go continue that going towards the end of the season.

“We got three big games now, which we need to get points from to bring others back into the mix.

“Like I said, one game at a time but everyone is focused on those three games because they’re three teams around us. Fingers crossed we can go to Ross County and get the points we need."

George has revealed a team bonding session helped to get Livi's squad pulling together.

"We went for some food and it brought the boys together and everyone had a good time," he said.

“I think it was needed. We weren’t doing anything together as a team so it was good for the boys to be out again.

“It must have had some effect, it was a big win against St Mirren and everyone is still buzzing from it.”

Manager David Martindale has bemoaned his ability to strengthen Livingston's squad because of financial constraints, but the January arrival of Tete Yengi after the striker's release by Ipswich Town could prove to be a bargain.

After two substitute appearances, the 23-year-old has started the next three games, with the last two providing rare victories that have taken the West Lothian side into the Scottish Cup quarter-finals and narrowed the gap at the foot of the table to three points with Ross County.

The rangy Australian found the net in those victories over Partick Thistle and St Mirren to take his total to three goals from five games already.

After fairly barren spells at Northampton Town and Finnish side KuPS, he could be rediscovering the potency shown in his first loan in Finland with VPS - and appears to have helped fellow forward Joel Nouble find his mojo again too.

Martindale will hope the pair continue their double act as they head to Dingwall for a game it is impossible not to view as a six-pointer in their head-to-head with County to avoid the automatic relegation spot.

Read all the weekend's Premiership picks

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• Ross County are unbeaten in three league games against Livingston (W1 D2), picking up as many points in this time (5) as they had across their previous seven against them in the Scottish Premiership (W1 D2 L4).

• Livingston have only lost one of their last six league trips to Ross County (W2 D3), a 2-0 defeat in May 2023.

• Ross County have lost each of their last four league matches, last losing five in a row within a single season in the Scottish Premiership in December 2020 (6).

• Livingston come into this match having lost all of their last nine away matches in the Scottish Premiership; they last lost more in a row within a single top-flight season when losing each of their final 11 away games of the 2005-06 campaign.

• Ross County have gained just one point from a losing position this season in the Scottish Premiership (2-2 draw v Hibernian), fewer than any other team in the competition. In fact, the Staggies have gone on to lose each of the last 10 league matches in which they have conceded the first goal.

It's a big one.

Livingston make the trek to Dingwall with the knowledge they can move level on points with opponents Ross County if they head home victorious.

After ending their 17-game winless run against St Mirren last weekend, should David Martindale stick with the same team? Pick your XI here.

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David Martindale says he's been leaning on the support of his wife and his backroom staff after a gruelling season with bottom side Livingston.

The West Lothian side have enjoyed an upturn in form in recent weeks however, dramatically progressing past Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup before ending their 17-game winless run with victory over St Mirren last weekend.

During their barren spell, Martindale admits he considered stepping away, but the people by his side have helped him stay in the role despite facing tough times.

"You look in the mirror and you look at yourself," he said. "I've always been self-reflective. Defeats are my lowest points. It's very easy being a manager when you're winning games of football. The enviornment takes care of itself.

"When it's adversity, adversity, adversity, that hole gets a little bit bigger.

"My wife is very, very supportive. I gave off social media months ago because it's a negative and toxic environment. I don't need it in my life.

"You come in and talk to your staff. Who do I look to? We start speaking about training and the next game and that's enough for me. I don't really think I need someone because those people are here, they're in the fight with me."

Livingston travel to relegation rivals Ross County on Saturday, where an away win will leave the sides level on points.

But Martindale says he won't accept a place in the relegation play-off spot and wants to push his team up the table and secure safety.

“I want 10th, I want ninth, I want to try and get as high as we can, he added".

“If you said to me ‘bang on 11th right now, league ends’, no, I wouldn’t be happy with that.

“I think we’ve still got to try and achieve 10th or better. I know it’s a big ask, a huge hill in front of us, but I think we’ve got more than enough in the locker to overcome that.”

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Brian McLauchlin, BBC Sport Scotland

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

Here are the key lines...

• Admits this season has been even more difficult than he had anticipated, despite admitting at the start of the campaign that Livingston were in for the toughest top-flight test of his tenure.

• Reiterates his belief that keeping the club in the Premiership this term would be the most significant achievement of his career.

• Under no illusions of the importance of Saturday's clash with County. A win would move his side level on points with their relegation rivals.

• The mental toll of a gruelling season is being offset by the support given to him by his family and backroom staff at the club.

• The club has endured "three years of hell" in attempting to cope with the ongoing litigation issues, which he says has cost "around £500,000".

Livingston and St Mirren have both condemned an incident following Saturday's meeting between the clubs in which an elderly home supporter had their bag containing club merchandise "snatched".

The West Lothian side say they have since checked in on the male fan, who is said to be doing well despite being "shaken up" after the game.

St Mirren say they offered to pay the costs of replacing the goods for the supporter, but as Livingston already had arrangements to do so in place, the clubs decided the funds would be donated to a mental health charity instead.

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Stuart Barrie, Livingston fan

There's wins, there's big wins, and then there's massive wins. Victory over St Mirren on Saturday certainly falls into the latter category.

Shamal George saved a penalty in a pivotal moment, but the key thing to celebrate is a forward player scoring a goal. Tete Yengi has only been here a few weeks and has already made a noticeable impact.

Our attackers have not achieved what the fans crave and what they would expect of themselves. However, big Tete may just be the catalyst to turn the season around. His two goals lead to back-to-back wins, with Livi coming out on top in both the league and the cup.

It may just be time to whisper it, but there may be a bit of momentum building up at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

George and Yengi will have grabbed the headlines but I think stalwarts Holt and Shinnie that have been magnificent for us. They proved their worth again at the weekend with their experience and leadership driving the team forward.

If the St Mirren win was massive, then Saturday's game against County is colossal. Win that and we are on level pegging with our fellow league strugglers. I think it’s going to be a blockbuster!

Interim manager Don Cowie is relishing time on the training ground with his Ross County players before the crucial encounter with Livingston. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip

Jonathan Sutherland, Sportscene presenter

It's been a while since Livingston have had two players make team of the week.

A clean sheet and a crucial penalty save from Shamal George helped Livi seal a massive win against St Mirren.

The entire backline impressed, but Ayo Obileye was a standout.

Livingston goalkeeper Shamal George said the sight of his mum, who is fighting cancer but travelled from Liverpool to watch him, in the stands was the inspiration for his penalty save against St Mirren - and what made him emotional afterwards. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.