Livingston

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."

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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.

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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

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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.

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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."

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• 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.

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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.”

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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.

Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Scotland their game-plan "almost" paid off.

"We defended our 18-yard box bar that moment extremely well.

"There was a lot to like in the game, albeit we probably gave away a wee bit too much territory.

"A couple of players were making their Premiership debuts in the Scottish Premiership this season. Jack Hamilton with his first start of the season and Miles [Welch-Hayes] came in and played very well.

"It's hard to be overcritical of the players because I thought their shape, distances and application within the game was there.

"No one likes losing games of football, but there is a way of losing football and tonight was a lot closer to that than it has been in the previous two games."

Image source, SNS

Image source, BBC Sport

Did you make the short trip to the capital to take in Livi's 1-0 defeat to Hearts? Or did you take in the game elsewhere?

Either way, we want to hear from you.

Give us your verdict on the game here.

Brian McLauchlin, BBC Sport Scotland at Tynecastle

Rarely have I witnessed such a one sided game at Tynecastle, but in the end one goal was enough to send the home fans away happy with the result.

Steven Naismith has been under pressure in recent weeks but his team tonight never allowed Livingston a chance to get a foothold in the match.

Jack Hamilton in the visitors goal kept Hearts at bay for most of the game, but there was nothing he could do about the winner from Vargas.

The three points will do Hearts a power of good ahead of Sunday's semi-final.

For Livingston, their defence stood tall for most of the game and on another day could have held on for the draw.

Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Sportsound of his last 48 hours...

"Dave [Black] contacted me saying St Johnstone want permission to speak to you and I said I'll come in and speak to you in the morning. I think I have been very vocal over the years, I do know if people think I am not telling the truth, I've not got a contract - but I don't need a contract.

"If I say I am going to do something, I am going to do it. I have always said my future will be decided by the people at Livingston, not Davie Martaindale.

"I went in and spoke to Dave, asked what is happening and he said, 'we don't want you to leave'. Right no bother, and I went back downstairs and took training.

"If the board had said they think I should go and speak to St Johnstone, then I would have gone and spoke to St Johnstone."

On his career ambitions, he added: "I don't come into work not to be at Livingston. I trust people that I have worked with for 10 years. They have my word, if they want me here at Livingston, I will be here.

"If something in the future came that was a no-brainer, then I trust the people at Livingston to do what is right not just for Livingston, but for David Martindale.

"Livingston changed my life, they gave me a career in professional football, and I'll honour my word. I love being the manager of Livingston.

"It's not a big deal!"