The weekend is here and so is the podcast you need to tee up all the Scottish Premiership action.
Tune in to the dulcet tones David Currie and Roy Loy for the top-flight lowdown here.
Livingston boss David Martindale is under no illusions about how tough a test his side face when they host Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
Motherwell sit fifth in the league and despite a recent run of defeats have won plenty of plaudits for their performances under manager Stuart Kettlewell.
“Kettlewell has done an extremely good job since he’s been there,” said Martindale. “Motherwell’s structure, stability and continuity is very, very good.
“They’ve got a defined shape on and off the ball, you can clearly see that in most games.
“It’s going to be a really difficult game of football. Outwith the Old Firm, he’s on the best run of form since he took over and I'm under no Illusions how hard the game is going to be.
“To get anything from the game we're going to have to be at our best.”
Image source, SNSDavid Martindale says he is staying put at Livingston until the club's hierarchy tell him otherwise.
New Livingston owner John McIlvogue this week spoke of his intention to secure Martindale on a long-term contract,, external describing him as "pound for pound the best manager in the SPFL".
Having been appointed in November 2020, Martindale is currently the longest-serving Premiership boss.
“I will never leave Livingston, not off my own back, I don’t care whatever jobs I’m linked with," said Martindale.
“Livingston's changed my life and I've been very vocal on that.
“Until the day that comes that [CEO] Dave [Black] and [chairman] John [Ward] chap my door and say, ‘we’ve had an offer for you, we think you should move on, or, listen Davie, we don’t think it’s working out, we need a fresh input in the building’, I’ll be at Livingston.
“It doesn't matter who I get linked with or attracted to, my future will be decided by the people at Livingston Football Club, not by David Martindale.”
Image source, SNS
Livingston have only won two of their last 24 top-flight matches against Motherwell (D7 L15), and are winless in their last 10 (D4 L6) since a 1-0 victory in February 2020 under Gary Holt.
Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Motherwell have only won more league matches against Ross County (7) than against Livingston (6).
Livingston have drawn three of their last four Scottish Premiership matches 1-1; no team has recorded more draws in the competition this season than Livingston’s four.
After winning three league matches on the trot, Motherwell have since lost their last three, although this run of defeats saw them face both Celtic and Rangers.
The current three-game losing streak is Stuart Kettlewell's longest such run as Motherwell boss. The last time he lost four in a row in the Scottish Premiership was in charge of Ross County in December 2020.
David Martindale has been speaking to the media before Livingston's Premiership game with Motherwell on Saturday.
Here are the key points from his press conference:
A full training week with no interruptions has enabled Martindale to "get detail into the players”.
On St Johnstone captain Liam Gordon’s sending off last weekend against Livi, which has since been overturned on appeal, he says he doesn’t think Joel Nouble was going anywhere but there was contact and he “can see why it was given and why St Johnstone are aggrieved”.
He’s expecting a difficult game against Motherwell despite their three-game losing run and says their “structure, stability and continuity is very good, they’ve got a defined shape on and off the ball".
He’s not focusing on past results and says “it’s going to be a very difficult league this year” and the “shift in the table is going to be evident”.
Martindale says he will "never leave Livingston off of my own back” and that the club has "changed my life".
Mikey Devlin is available after injury, while Cristian Montano and Michael Nottingham are back running.
Livingston women's striker Jen Dodds will combine playing duties with a key role as the club's football operations manager and media officer.
Dodds, who helped fire Livi to promotion to SWPL2 last season, will work alongside chief executive Dave Black and secretary Tricia McKenna.
“I’m delighted to be on board and already really enjoying the role so far,” said Dodds.
“After graduating in a sports course at university recently, I was keen to get involved in football and I’m really pleased to be able to do that here at Livingston.
“From the outside coming in, it has been eye-opening to see the work that goes on behind the scenes. I hope to continue the good work that has been done by those here previously and grow that and develop it in the coming weeks and months.”
Livingston host Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday looking for a first win since August.
Would you make changes to the side if you were in David Martindale's shoes? Pick your Livi XI here.
Stuart Barrie, Livingston fan
Another point on the road can only be a good thing. We maybe didn’t fire on all cylinders but it’s a good point to take.
There is a bit of controversy over some of the decisions given. Over the season it's some you win and some you lose, I think on Saturday we got the rub of the green.
I have to admit being terrified when we got that penalty; David Martindale had hair the last time we converted a spot-kick.
We have missed so many penalties I thought we would be the first team to ask not to take one to save the heartache and embarrassment of missing another. But up steps Sean Kelly and all is well from 12 yards again.
Another positive is that big Joel Nouble looked livelier after being a bit below par for a while. Jason Holt was very good and despite losing a goal I thought we defended decently too.
It wasn’t just a point won, it was keeping St Johnstone at arm’s length that was just as important.
Highlights: St Johnstone 1-1 Livingston
Image source, BBC SportWe asked for your views on Livingston's 1-1 draw with St Johnstone
Malcolm: Time up for Davie, ran out of ideas, team needs fresh ideas, hope, future NOW.
BBC Scotland's Tyrone Smith at McDiarmid Park
Livingston forward Joel Nouble insists "the only way is up" after their "decent" start to the season.
Livi have lost two of their opening seven Scottish Premiership games, against Rangers and Celtic. However, four draws mean they currently find themselves 10th in the table.
"Other than the Old Firm we haven’t lost to another team so, we don’t go into games trying to get a point, we want to win games but getting a point is better than nothing so I feel it has been a decent start," Nouble said after Saturday's 1-1 draw with St Johnstone in Perth.
"As players we are always trying to strive for more, we want to get more three points on the board but for now I feel like it has been an alright start.
"Wins make the difference in this league. So far, we haven’t been able to do that a lot but it is a long season so, in our opinion, the only way is up and we can only get better.
"We feel like we are still playing a different formation to last season, we are still getting the hang of it, we are probably a bit defensively more solid, but up the pitch where I am, we have got to do better and chip in with more goals, but I am confident me and the boys can always improve and do that."
Image source, SNSJoel Nouble helped his side secure a point at McDiarmid Park
Livingston manager David Martindale: "I think St Johnstone were probably well worth the money in the first half, I think there was a wee bit of an overhang from us. I thought we were really slow, really passive, and quite lethargic in the opening stages of the game.
"St Johnstone got their just rewards, they pressed us quite high up the park obviously Steven [MacLean]’s information would have been that we played Wednesday night and not had the recovery that they’d had.
"We tweaked a couple of bits and bobs at halftime and get a wee bit fortunate in terms of how we got the entry into the box for the penalty. Joel sees the space and does really well so we get a wee bit fortunate in how we got back into the game.
"From that stage I thought we were value for money, I thought we were quite good.
"We never really challenge their keeper to be honest but we pressed them and worked the ball really well, and moved them side to side and got a wee bit of joy from that in the second half.
"The sending off made it a wee bit more difficult for us as they dropped into a 4-4-1, so they hold on for the draw and to be fair a draw was probably about the right result to be honest."
Were you at the match in Perth or following along from home?
Either way, we want your thoughts. Have your say here.
His on-the-ball quality didn't shine as much as previously today but Joel Nouble showed great work ethic to constantly hassle the St Johnstone defenders.
He won his side's important penalty and then was on the receiving end of the tackle that reduced Saints to ten men.
Image source, SNSTyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland at McDiarmid Park
As for Livi, I guess this will maybe go down as a decent point on the road.
It is actually their fourth draw in seven games and if David Martindale can start turning those draws into wins, then they could find themselves challenging further up the table.
However, if they can’t then they could find it difficult to get themselves away from the Premiership basement.
David Martindale also makes a quartet of changes to his side, who were hammered 4-0 at Ibrox on midweek League Cup duty.
Luiyi de Lucas, Stephen Kelly, Dan MacKay, and Kurtis Guthrie are all benched.
With Tom Parkes, Mo Sangare, Andrew Shinnie, and Bruce Anderson replacing them.
St Johnstone: Mitov, Wright, Gordon, Considine, Robinson, Carey, Sprangler, Phillips, Costelloe, Kucheriavyi, Jephcott
Substitutes: Richards, Gallacher, May, MacPherson, Olufunwa, McClelland, Smith, Turner-Cooke, Franczak
Livingston: George, Parkes, Obileye, Anderson, Brandon, Holt, Nouble, Sangare, Shinnie, Kelly, Penrice
Substitutes: Hamilton, Pittman, Kelly, MacKay, Bradley, De Lucas, Lloyd, Guthrie, Lawal
St Johnstone hope Chris Kane and Liam Gordon will shake off knocks while DJ Jaiyesimi is making good progress following a hamstring injury but will not make the game.
Nicky Clark (ankle), Ali Crawford (calf), Ross Sinclair (broken arm) and Callum Booth (back) all remain sidelined.
Livingston boss David Martindale will assess a few bumps and bruises after the midweek defeat at Ibrox. Livi hope to have Mikey Devlin back from injury, while Michael Nottingham (Achilles) and Cristian Montano (calf) are building up their fitness.
Image source, SNSSean Kelly believes Livingston's game at St Johnstone on Saturday is unlikely to be one for the purists, but says it's the type of fixture where "seasons are going to be made".
Saints are three points adrift at the bottom and have yet to bank a win this season, while 10th-place Livi are seeeking a first victory in four league outings.
"I think we know what to expect going to St Johnstone, it's always going to be a difficult game," said defender Kelly.
“I don't imagine it's going to be necessarily the prettiest game people have watched, just going off pure stereotypes.
"It's a massive game even this early in the season given the way the league table's shaping up already.
"These are the games where seasons are going to be made against teams that are in and about us.
"Obviously you can take the Rangers and Celtic games in isolation, but if you're going to have a decent season these are the games where we need to win."
Kelly, 30, made his first start of the season in the midweek Viaplay Cup exit to Rangers after an injury absence.
"Fitness-wise I'm obviously not 100% perfect, being the first game, but I'm delighted to be back," he said.
"It felt as the [Rangers] game went on I grew personally stronger and the team grew stronger until the second goal, which obviously came at our best spell."
Six games in and it's already looking bleak for St Johnstone with just two points and two goals scored. The Perth side are three points adrift at the foot of the table and need to get some wins to avoid becoming detached.
Manager Steven MacLean also faces a tricky trip to Aberdeen before the next international break, emphasising the need to take something this weekend against Livingston.
Counterpart David Martindale is not under nearly the same amount of pressure but Livi are licking their wounds after losing heavily to both 10-man Celtic last Saturday and Rangers in the cup.
Livingston have built a reputation of doing enough to steer clear of danger by picking up points in fixtures just like this. But defeat would mean three losses inside eight days for Martindale's team.
Livingston travel to St Johnstone for a crucial Premiership contest on Saturday.
After a 4-0 defeat against Rangers in the League Cup, should David Martindale change things up?
Make yourself the manager and pick your Livi XI here.
Livingston manager David Martindale says four Rangers players admitted Abdallah Sima's controversial opener in the sides' League Cup quarter-final on Wednesday should not have stood. (Scottish Daily Mail print edition)
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