Livingston

Livingston's Cristian Montano has encouraged people to open up and talk about their feelings after overcoming his own mental health struggles.

Montano contemplated taking his own life after being vilified on social media following his sacking by Oldham Athletic in 2013 in relation to spot-fixing allegations. The case against the Colombian and 12 other players was dropped in 2015.

"Don’t ever feeling like speaking shows weakness,” Montano said at a local football session designed to help people with their mental health. “When you speak, it’s a sense of relief.

"I feel like a dark cloud gets lifted, and you know, we all feel things, we all struggle, but it’s about understanding that struggling is part of life and helps us grow.

"There’s nothing wrong with you talking, sharing your story, and whatever setbacks you experience, it’s okay."

Livingston manager David Martindale was also keen to highlight the importance of such local projects.

“You look at all the girls coming along, playing football, socialising, gathering together and talking - that’s the most important aspect," he said.

"It’s about trying to help out as much as we can in the community."

Image source, SNS

David Martindale is refusing to panic over Livingston’s poor start to the season, insisting he has steered them out of “bigger ruts”.

Livi have suffered four straight defeats, failing to score in the last three, and are second bottom of the Premiership with just 10 points from 12 games.

"There's no denying we're in a wee bit of a rut right now, and it's frustrating, but that's all it is," Martindale said.

"If you go over previous seasons, you'll probably find that there's been bigger ruts than what we're going through at this point in time that we've managed to come out of.

"A couple of seasons ago we had frustrating form at the start of the season and had just 13 points from 16 games. We were in a bad rut but we missed out on the top six on matchday 33 with the last kick of the ball.

"For teams at our level, the most difficult thing to find is consistency. We will find it at some stage during the season but when we'll find it is difficult because there are a lot of variables that can affect the outcome of a game."

Livingston face a tough test as they bid to stop the rot, with their next two matches at home to Rangers on Sunday and then away to in-form St Mirren the following weekend.

"I'm under no illusions about how hard the next two games are going to be," Martindale added.

"We're playing second and third so that shows you how big the task ahead is."

Image source, SNS

After four defeats in a row Livingston will be hoping their luck changes when they host Rangers on Sunday.

If you were David Martindale, what changes would you make to the team? Make yourself the manager and choose your Livi XI here.

Image source, BBC Sport

Stuart Barrie, Livingston fan

Another week, another meeting with Dundee, and sadly, another three points dropped.

It was a tight affair, and we did a lot more right than we did in the last game against Tony Docherty's side.

We were undone by a moment of brilliance in the form of a thunderbolt free-kick. Often, these kind of set-piece situations are lined up with more hope than expectation. This one, however, was launched with real speed and accuracy.

So far, November has yielded no wins, and with a home fixture with Rangers and a trip to third-placed St Mirren to come, it's hard to be particularly optimistic.

That being said, you never know in Scottish football. I think the seven games in December have the potential to define our season. We have home games with Ross County, Hibs, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone that we really need to take full points from.

St Johnstone's approach for David Martindale threw a real curveball. They may be a bigger club with more fans, as well as a couple of trophies nestling in their cabinet, but is a move to Perth the step up that the manager truly desires?

Desite the run of form, I'm delighted he's staying put. We need him fully focused on the next run of games as chalking up as many points to get us away from the bottom-end of the table.

Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland

Substitute Michael Nottingham had to be stretchered off deep into injury-time in the 1-0 loss to Dundee after suffering a suspected concussion.

The towering centre-half was in the mix as Livi pushed for an equaliser, but it ended in distressing scenes.

Manager David Martindale said post-match he wasn't quite sure what his player had done, but that he "wasn't great".

"He felt a wee bit dizzy post-match and he's jarred his neck as well," Martindale told BBC Scotland.

"I spoke to Jordan McGhee and he said Michael headered the back of his head, so I think there is a wee touch of concussion there.

"There is a spasm in his neck from the impact, so we had to get him off with a concussion [substitution].

"I don't think it is a bad one, it's more the neck. I hope the big man is going to be okay because we're just getting him back."

Image source, SNS

Image source, BBC Sport

Did you make the trip up to Dens, or did you take in the game elsewhere?

Either way we want to hear from you.

Give us your verdict on the match here.

Livingston manager David Martindale: "The boys were unlucky not to take something from the game. The boys are gutted. I'm in there, and I can't be overly harsh on them.

"The build-up that leads to the free kick, we have to look after the ball a bit better, but I do think that Sean Kelly has to make that decision, take that foul in a good area of the park.

"It's a moment of brilliance from wee McCowan, that's the difference in the game.

"The one main stat that's counts is the goals for column. We have more possession, shots, but I don't really care about that.

"We had a big chance with Joel Nouble in the first-half, he has to be doing better, he has to hit the target and work the 'keeper. He has to be a bit more ruthless in the opposition box.

"I feel for the players, they gave my everything I asked for.

"This is what happens at a club our size, we have no divine right to win a game of football. This is a fairly consistent pattern, not one that I like going through, but one I am very familiar with and I have plenty of experience in my 10 years at Livingston of going through it."

Image source, SNS

Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland at Dens Park

Dundee manager Tony Docherty will he been very satisfied with the character his players showed to bounce back from their midweek thrashing at the hands of Rangers.

His side have plenty of character, but they also have plenty of quality too.

Several players in their ranks - McCowan, Beck and Cameron being the obvious picks - can open teams up and make the difference in tight encounters like this one.

Dundee are back in the top six, and with those qualities, you wouldn't bet against them staying there.

The season is still in its relative infancy, but that is now four defeats in a row for Livingston. In fact, they have won just one of their last nine league games.

Unsurprisingly, given those numbers, they remain precariously placed second bottom of the table.

And while there will be no panic stations just yet, the West Lothian side know they must somehow turn that form around, otherwise it is going to be a very long season.

Dundee: Carson, McGhee, Portales, Shaugnessy, Lamie, Beck, Cameron, Sylla, McCowan, Bakayoko, Rudden.

Substitutes: Legzdins, Kerr, Pineda, Robinson, Reilly, Robertson, Howley, Boateng, Donnelly.

Livingston: Hamilton, Welch-Hayes, Devlin, Kelly, Penrice, Shinnie, Pittman, Holt, Lloyd, Nouble, Kelly.

Substitutes: George, Parkes, Anderson, MacKay, Brandon, Bradley, Sangare, Nottingham, Guthrie.

Follow our live coverage.

Amadou Bakayoko felt he was robbed of a goal by VAR in Dundee's win over Livingston last weekend and wants to put it right when the sides meet again at Dens Park on Sunday. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip

Dundee's Josh Mulligan underwent a successful hernia operation on Tuesday and will be out for another four weeks. Otherwise, boss Tony Docherty's squad has a clean bill of health.

Livi are still without Cristian Montano through suspension after his red card against Dundee last Saturday.

David Martindale must decide whether to restore goalkeeper Shamal George, dropped to the bench against Hearts due to a minor injury, or keep faith with Jack Hamilton.

Kurtis Guthrie returns after illness, while Michael Nottingham could be in the squad following tendinitis.

Image source, SNS

Can Livingston claim a first win in four games when they visit Dens Park on Saturday?

Put yourself in the manager's shoes and choose your starting XI here.

David Martindale is unfazed by Livingston's league position as he says he begins every season prepared for the possibility of a relegation battle.

The Livi manager says his primary concern is to stay “in touching distance to everybody else” and he is not concerned with his team being 11th in the table.

"Not really because if you look at the difference between second bottom and fifth, it's one win, three points,” said Martindale, whose side are away to Dundee on Sunday.

“I think it needs to be put in perspective, I don't really get caught up in league positions. I've been at Livingston for 10 years and we've been in relegation battles for about eight of them.

"The only year I can hand on heart say we weren't threatened by relegation was the League 1 days.

"Even the first two years in the Scottish Championship, all we were trying to do was stay in the league.

"This is our sixth year in the Premiership and every year is a relegation battle (to start with).

"I think people need to be pragmatic in terms of just because we have overachieved previously, it doesn't mean we have a divine right for that to happen every year.

"It's a tight league this year, there's three points between fifth and 11th, four points between fourth and 11th, and six points between fifth and 12th.

"If a team shows a bit of consistency and picks up two or three wins on the bounce, it can change the whole look of the table."

Image source, SNS

• Dundee are winless and goalless in their last five home games against Livingston in the top flight (D3 L2) since a 2-0 win in May 2004 under Jim Duffy.

• Livingston’s ongoing run of five consecutive clean sheets away to Dundee is their longest ever run of shutouts away to a side in the Premiership.

• Livingston have lost their last two league games against promoted sides, including a 2-0 defeat to Dundee last month. They have never lost three consecutive top-flight games against promoted clubs.

• Dundee have won just one of their last 14 Premiership matches played on a Sunday (D4 L9), although that was their only such fixture this season, beating Hearts 1-0 in August.

• Four of Livingston’s last eight league goals against Dundee have been scored by Bruce Anderson (50%), with those four goals coming in his last three Premiership games against the Dark Blues. Against no other side has Anderson scored more goals in the competition.

Image source, SNS

David Martindale insists he had no issues with Livingston knocking back St Johnstone’s approach to speak to him about their managerial vacancy.

"I don't sign contracts, I shake hands," he said.

"You don't need a contract to honour what comes out your mouth. For me, whatever they say is what I'll abide by. That's my morals.

"I'm out of contract so I could have said 'I want to go and speak to St Johnstone, there's nothing you can do' but we don't have that kind of relationship.

"When the day comes that Livingston don't want me here through success or failure, I'll shake their hands and I'll pick my car keys up and away I'll go.

"Nothing feels any different to what it felt on Monday morning. I don't really get fazed by anything, I'm pretty easy-going.

"I've given Livingston my word that I'll be at Livingston as long as they want me.

"What I will say is I think St Johnstone is a fantastic club, I think it's a great opportunity for someone, but I had no aspirations to go and speak to St Johnstone if Livingston wanted me to stay here.

"As soon as Livingston said to me 'we want to keep you at the club' it was done and I went downstairs to take training."

Miles Welch-Hayes admits the joy of finally making his Livingston debut was soured by the late defeat at Tynecastle.

The 27-year-old defender, a summer signing from Harrogate Town, put months of injury frustration behind him with a start in Wednesday night's game at Hearts, where Livi succumbed to Kenneth Vargas' 79th-minute strike.

“It’s a tough one, those ones hurt the most,” said Welch-Hayes.

“We defended very well for most of the game and conceded late, but it’s a performance we can build from.

“It’s a tough place to come, I’m happy to make my debut but it’s a bit disappointing we didn’t get anything from the game.

“It’s been tough for me, I came here and got injured. I came back too early and got injured again and was out for two-and-a-half months.

“It’s even been tough mentally to get back to full fitness but I have to keep fighting and listen to the gaffer and do what he tells me to do. I still feel like I’ve got more to offer.”

Image source, SNS

We asked for your views on Livingston’s 1-0 defeat against Hearts. here’s what you said:

Graeme: I don't expect us to play fast flowing or fancy football, however I do expect when we have the ball that we have a plan. When we moved from a box midfield to five, with Stephen Kelly supporting Joel Nouble up top, we looked better. The game from Livingston's point of view was a body on the line defending type. I love defending, but it was messy.

• Hearts attempted 667 passes in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Livingston have failed to score in 5 of their 11 games, only St Johnstone (7) have failed to score more often in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Hearts have kept a clean sheet in 5 of their 11 games, only Rangers (7) have done this more often in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Livingston have now gone two games without registering a shot on target.

• Hearts attempted 24 shots in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Livingston attempted 3 shots, their lowest total in a single match in the Scottish Premiership this season.