Livingston host league leaders Celtic on Saturday lunchtime, looking to upset the odds and continue their recent unbeaten run.
Would you make changes to the team that drew 1-1 away at Ross County last time out.
Choose your Livi XI here.
Image source, SNSLivingston have lost their last four league meetings with Celtic, more than their previous 11 beforehand (W2 D6 L3).
Having failed to win five successive league visits to Livingston from 2018 to 2021, Celtic have since won both of their last two by an aggregate 6-1 score.
Since a 0-0 draw on the opening day to Aberdeen, Livingston have failed to keep a clean sheet in the Scottish Premiership, conceding eight goals in four matches. In fact, they have only kept two clean sheets in their last 21 top-flight games, conceding 38 goals during this period.
Celtic have completed more passes (2,748), completed more passes in the opposition half (1,427), and averaged more possession per game (68.4%) than any other team in the Scottish Premiership this season. In contrast, Livingston have completed the fewest passes in the league with 861.
Livingston boss David Martindale is looking to eke an advantage out of Celtic’s Champions League exertions when the sides meet on Saturday.
Brendan Rodgers takes his team to West Lothian for a lunchtime kick-off in the wake of Tuesday night’s 2-0 loss to Feyenoord in Rotterdam.
“We feel we can take points off anyone coming here as we have historically shown,” said Martindale.
“We go into the game with a bit of belief. We need to go and think there will be an overhang from Celtic’s European adventures.
“They are away playing Champions League football at a very good intensity. It took a lot out of them then they have to travel back. So you have got to try and find every marginal gain you can.
“Playing Saturday/Wednesday or Saturday/Tuesday can have a knock-on effect so we have to try and use that to our advantage.
“They also have a wee bit of an injury problem that we have to look to exploit. [Cameron] Carter-Vickers is a huge player for them and it’s difficult for new guys to try and emulate what guys like him and Jota have done over the last couple of seasons right away.
“It’s probably not their settled back four just now and any manager will tell you it’s probably the one area of the park you’re not wanting to change too much.”
Image source, SNSDavid Martindale has been speaking to the media before Livingston’s Premiership game with Celtic this weekend.
Here are the key points from the Livi manager:
Last weekend’s point at Ross County could be one Livi look back on as crucial at the end of the season.
Livingston believe they can trouble any team at home and last season was the first time since they returned to the top flight in 2018 that they’ve not taken points off Celtic.
They will look to exploit any European hangover suffered by Celtic after their Champions League exertions in defeat at Feyenoord.
Martindale believes European football is a “huge factor” in Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs all struggling at the start of the domestic season.
Celtic are missing two “huge and influential” players in Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers, but Martindale says talk of their defensive frailty is overblown.
He says his players deserve huge credit for their run of one defeat in 10 this season and that it shows the “solidity and continuity” instilled in the squad.
Despite the loss of “very, very big players” such as Stephane Omeonga, Jack Fitzwater and Nicky Devlin in the summer, Livi still have a core of 14-15 players who understand the culture and environment at the club and "lead by example".
On whether it’s difficult to keep the squad focused amid off-field investment wrangles: “These problems have been here for about four years so it’s not any different now. I’m disappointed when there’s not a story about Livingston in the paper.”
Image source, SNSLivingston’s task against Celtic hasn’t become any easier with Brendan Rodgers having replaced Ange Postecoglou at the helm, says David Martindale.
After inheriting a treble-winning side, Rodgers’ Celtic were knocked out of the Viaplay Cup by Kilmarnock but are top of the Premiership by two points after five games.
Livi host Celtic on Saturday and boss Martindale told Sky Sports Scotland: "First and foremost, they are two top-class managers, so they have lost a top-class manager through success but also recruited a top-class manager.
"There is differences, subtle changes, subtle tweaks. They have lost Cameron Carter-Vickers (to injury) which has weakened them and I think Jota leaving them weakens them.
"They have recruited very well. It's going to take a bit of time for that to have an impact but they've got a manager who has whose managed at the top level, who knows the club inside out so that transitional period has helped because he knows the fans' demands, he knows a lot of the players.
"Callum McGregor was a mainstay under Brendan (first time), that's the leader on the park.
"So they have a lot of stability and continuity by bringing Brendan back so it is going to be an extremely difficult game.”
Despite further budget restrictions, Livingston sit in seventh place and have lost only one game in 10 in normal time - a 4-0 defeat by Rangers at Ibrox.
Martindale rates his side’s season as “six out of 10” so far, adding: “Fairly happy with the start we have made but still a bit of work to be done and a good bit of progress to be had for everyone at the club."
Image source, SNS
Stuart Barrie, Livingston fan
Really pleased to get a very decent point at County, even if we weren’t so decent in the game.
That’s a few times we’ve not been at our best and come away with something from Dingwall. Long may it continue.
Davie Martindale’s tactical genius entered a new phase by having the bus break down and the game delayed. I can see Pep letting down tyres on the City bus now and Jurgen hiding the spark plugs as this new methodology takes hold. We didn’t even get to drive it never mind park the bus in this game!
The boss said the ball had to be taken away for emergency treatment after the match as it had been blootered all day long.
I'm not sure we would have scraped anything from a game like this last season. Some call it the ugly side but effort, endeavour and efficiency with the ball is a massive part of the game. Get that right and you’ve got a chance.
Highlights: Ross County 1-1 Livingston
Image source, BBC SportWe asked for your views on Livingston's draw with Ross County
Ian: Very poor performance! We stole a point! No good shape! We only saw Ross County in the quarter of the pitch in front of us! We had a defensive shape most of the game and no-one running into open spaces up front!
Livingston manager David Martindale: "I think that'll be lucky if it gets 60 seconds on Sportscene.
"We stole a point potentially. I think on the balance of play, Ross County had more of the chances.
"My assessment is it's a point on the road. It was two sets of players fighting for everything.
"I felt they pressed us a lot better. Our entries into their half were really uncontrolled. I'll put in the caveat that Shamal [George] had very little to do. Our back three were tremendous.
"I have a tremendous relationship with Brucey [Anderson]. I'm not just his manager, I'm his friend. If you get balls in the box, he's one of the best finishers in the Premiership. He's so instinctive.
"We struggled to get any real penetration on Ross County. We kept the three forward players on the park and got our just rewards."
After the game was delayed due to Livingston's bus breaking down, Martindale was asked how his side would be travelling home.
He said: "I've not thought about it. The company that deal with Ross County sent a bus out to us really quickly and I think one of theirs is taking us home."
Image source, SNS
Image source, BBC SportDid you make the trip to Dingwall for the draw up north?
We want to hear your thoughts as Livingston made it four unbeaten in the Premiership.
Sean McGill, BBC Sport Scotland
The last time Livingston were on the road, they ended a miserable run of failing to score on the road with an impressive dismantling of Hibernian at Easter Road.
They followed that big win up that a poor display against St Mirren, where neither side posed any real threat in a drab draw.
Here, it appeared as though they had made a rudderless return to life away from the Tony Macaroni Arena, as their forward players were locked out the game for large spells.
As they often do, though, they showed their fighting spirit. Just the five touches in the opposition box may make for concerning reading, but when two of those were Anderson setting himself up for an equaliser, David Martindale will head home relatively pleased.
The manager will be asking for more of that battering-ram style attack they showed in Edinburgh the next time they head on their travels again.
Image source, OptaLivingston registered just five touches in the opposition box - 30 fewer than Ross County.
If it hadn't been for Luiyi de Lucas, Livingston may have had an insurmountable mountain to climb before half-time.
His block kept out Jordan White's volley moments before the defender headed a looping ball off the line to keep the game goalless at the time.
Image source, SNSAfter a draw with joint-top St Mirren before the international break, David Martindale makes two changes up the top end of the park for his travelling Livingston team.
Out go Scott Pittman and Kurtis Guthrie, with Stephen Kelly and Bruce Anderson the players tasked with providing some cutting edge in attack, alongside the formidable Joel Nouble.
Image source, SNS
Image source, OptaRoss County: Laidlaw, Brown, Baldwin, Nightingale, Leak, Reid, Randall, Turner, Dhanda, Murray, White
Substitutes: Munro, Purrington, Sims, Loturi, Harmon, Henderson, High, Samuel, Brophy
Livingston: George, Devlin, Obileye, de Lucas, Brandon, Shinnie, Holt, Penrice, Kelly, Nouble, Anderson
Substitutes: Hamilton, Parkes, Pittman, MacKay, Bradley, Sangare, Lloyd, Guthrie, Lawal
Image source, optaRoss County have Scott Allardice and Max Sheaf closing in on fitness but they will not return this week. Scott High is a doubt while midfielders Ross Callachan and Ben Paton remain out with long-term knee injuries.
Livingston have Sean Kelly available again, with full-back Cristian Montano (calf) the only absentee for the Lions.
Image source, SNS
The weekend starts here. Premiership action is back on Saturday and we have all six games covered in our preview podcast.
Don't miss out - give it a listen.
Bruce Anderson insists he isn't satisfied as a “super sub”, with the 24-year-old Livingston forward setting his sights on a regular starting role.
Anderson's only appearances in the league this season have come off the bench - including a scoring cameo in the 3-2 win at Hibs - but he says he has to use those minutes to impress and force his way back into David Martindale's starting line-up.
“I don't want to get that name tag of super sub,” Anderson said. “I want to play as many games as I can and I'm just going to keep working hard to try and get back into the team.
“It's just all about trying to get in and help the boys when I do come on, I'm working hard to get into the starting XI.
“I want to start every game and I love scoring goals, so for me it's just about getting my head down and trying to get my way into the starting line-up.
“If I'm on the bench it's just about coming on and trying to make a big impact.
“I need to keep scoring goals. It's difficult because the boys are playing well now so it's just about biding my time and keep working hard and doing extras and every time I do get the opportunity to go on, it’s about trying to take it.”
Image source, SNS
Ross County manager Malky Mackay faces welcome selection headaches against Livingston with a near full strength squad. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external
After their 2-0 win in May last season, Ross County could secure successive victories over Livingston in the top flight for the first time.
Livingston have kept just a single clean sheet in their last nine league meetings with Ross County, doing so in a 2-0 win in January 2023.
Ross County have won two of their last three league games (L1), and are looking to earn successive league wins for only a third time since the start of last season, having previously done so in November 2022 and May 2023.
Livingston’s 3-2 win at Hibs in their last away league game ended a run of nine straight Scottish Premiership away defeats without scoring. However, David Martindale’s side have conceded at least twice in each of their last eight league games on the road (20 in total, 2.5 per game), keeping just one clean sheet in their last 20 away league outings (2-0 v Ross County in January 2023).
No player has created more chances from set-plays in this season’s Premiership than Ross County’s Yan Dhanda (6), with both of his assists in the league coming from set-pieces (1 corner, 1 free-kick). Meanwhile, no side has conceded more set-piece goals in the competition this term (excl. penalties) than Livingston (3).
Livingston return from the international break by heading to Dingwall to face Ross County on Saturday.
Can David Martindale’s side get back to winning ways after shipping an injury-time equaliser to St Mirren last time out?
Make yourself the manager and choose your starting XI here.
