Livingston

• St Mirren remain unbeaten in 11 league meetings with Livingston (W5 D6) since a 1-2 defeat in February 2020.

• Since winning their first ever top-flight visit to St Mirren 2-0 in August 2018, Livingston have failed to win their last eight Scottish Premiership trips to Paisley (D4 L4).

• St Mirren have lost three of their last five league games (W1 D1), more than their previous 11 beforehand (W4 D5 L2).

• Livingston have lost each of their last five league games; not since a run of 13 from December 2005 to April 2006 have they lost more in a row in the top-flight.

• Only Celtic (18) and Rangers (12) have scored more home goals than St Mirren this season (11), with the Buddies averaging 1.8 home goals per game this term.

"There's been no conversation about us going back to grass," says Livingston chief executive Dave Black, who explains it would not be cost effective to rip up the synthetic pitch and find somewhere else to train. (Daily Mail, external - subscription required)

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, BBC Sport

Livingston travel to St Mirren as they return to action following the international break.

They will be hoping to turn their luck around after a run of five straight defeats.

What changes would you make to the starting XI? Tell us here.

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Livingston boss David Martindale says the "highly competitive" nature of the Premiership is the reason behind the league being so tight this season.

Martindale's side currently sit bottom of the division, but just six points separates them and sixth-placed Kilmarnock.

"I’ve seen comments saying it’s a poor league this year," the Livi boss said. "But if you flip it I think it’s highly competitive.

“I see it as a positive, but I will say I think the Old Firm have opened up a bigger gap than they have previously this season."

The West Lothian club face a tough trip to St Mirren on Saturday after suffering five straight defeats in the league.

But Martindale believes his experience of navigating Livingston through "bumps" in previous seasons will see them come out the other end of another bad run.

"I think you can look at six, maybe seven, (teams) who will go through this at some stage," he added.

"I think at our level it’s the team who can have consistency that will climb away from the bottom and push for the top six.

"We had a fantastic start last season and hit a major bump in the road after the turn of the year.

"I think St Mirren are sitting third in the league so I’m under no illusion just how difficult Saturday will be."

Image source, BBC Sport

We asked you for your thoughts on Livingston's season so far.

Del is of the mind that "something has to change".

Del: Something has to change and it's not down to bring unlucky... we're playing like a team who if we're very lucky, we might just sneak a draw.

Not enough chances being created. Not enough attacking in numbers. Players getting a game despite offering nothing in each match. Change in tactics, we're currently losing, something has to change.

We’re knee-deep into the final international break of the calendar year… who’s already itching to get back to domestic action?

To get the club juices flowing, we want to know what you’re making of Livi's season so far.

Who’s been the star performer? Which summer signing has impressed? Who deserves a shout-out? What improvements need to be made?

Give us your take here.

Stuart Barrie, Livingston fan

I didn’t expect too much from this game. Rangers had been in good form so I half-expected a bit of a drubbing.

Philippe Clement's side were very good value for their win and we had to do the hard yards to keep them at bay.

The first half wasn’t great but at least we had a bit of a go after the break.

I know VAR worked in our favour on a few decisions, but it went against us for the first penalty, and I have no idea how that one was given. I’d get VAR in the bin. It’s ruining our game, it sucks the joy out of goals and somehow VAR is all we end up talking about when it was brought in to provide definitive solutions.

It’s good to get all the stands full and bank that cash but our season isn’t about playing either of the Old Firm, it’s all about how we do against the teams around us near the bottom. There’s a few big tests coming up in the next few weeks that are going to define how this season will end for us.

A major positive for this run of games, is that we have the experienced Brian Rice as part of the coaching set-up. Teams know what we’ll do so he’ll hopefully bring in new ideas and be a good wingman for the manager. The international break comes at a good time for players and staff to work on things that will give us any sort of advantage in the matches ahead. He could be one of the signings of the season for us. I really look forward to seeing what he can bring.

Former Scotland international Kenny Miller joins BBC Sport Scotland commentator Alasdair Lamont to dissect Sunday's Scottish Premiership games, while also having a wee look forward to an unusually stress-free international break for the national team.

Give it a whirl here.

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Andrew Shinnie admits Livingston 'haven't been good enough', but assures they 'will bounce back' after the international break.

The Lions have lost their last five Scottish Premiership games - including Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Rangers - and find themselves at the foot of the table.

But the experienced Shinnie believes the group at the West Lothian club has what it takes to carve an upturn in fortunes.

"That's a block of games finished, another international break, after which we'll go into another block of games where we really need to pick up points," the 34-year-old told the club's social channels, external.

"It's games we can but we are going to have to perform better than we have been doing because it hasn't really been good enough.

"Games are coming thick and fast, which is what you want as a player. We're going through a little run at the minute, but as long as I've been here we always go through spells in the season where we struggle to get results - I think a lot of teams do.

"Hopefully this is ours, quite early in the season. There is no doubt we will get better, it's a good group in there. We will work really hard, we will bounce back.

"That was a tough game to end this block. We tried our best to be in a good shape and make it difficult for them but obviously we've ultimately lost the game 2-0.

"We're going into a break where we don't want to be where we are but we've got to deal with that. We'll be working really hard during the break and the rest of the season and we will come through it."

Former SPL referee Steve Conroy is baffled by VAR's failure to intervene after goalkeeper Shamal George's challenge on Ross McCausland was deemed a penalty in Rangers' win over Livingston. (Scottish Sun)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

• Livingston have failed to score in their last four games in the Scottish Premiership, a run of 481 minutes without a goal.

• James Tavernier has scored six goals this season (1 in this game), more than any other Rangers player in the Scottish Premiership.

• Livingston have failed to score in seven of their 13 games, no team has failed to do so more often in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Rangers have won their last five games in the Scottish Premiership, their last longer winning streak was from 8 January 2023 to 1 April 2023, a run of 10 matches.

• Livingston have lost their last five games in the Scottish Premiership, their longest losing streak in the competition (since at least 2013/2014).

• Rangers have kept a clean sheet in eight of their 12 games, more than any other in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Livingston fans, were you at the Tony Macaroni Arena to see your side fall to defeat against Rangers, or were you following along from home?

Either way, we want your thoughts on the game. Have your say here.

Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Sportsound: "First half we gave a cheap first goal. We made bad decision in the game that led to them applying pressure in the final third.

"We go in at half-time 1-0, a little bit lucky, but we've kept ourselves in the game. We started the second half ok, and then when it goes to 2-0 we're never getting anything from the game.

"There's still a lot of football to be played. I genuinely believe we've got enough to keep Livingston in the Scottish Premiership. It's about us focusing internally on what we can control. I take one day, one game at a time."

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George O'Neill, BBC Sport Scotland

It's now four league wins from four for Philippe Clement as the Belgian manager continues to impress.

It would have been easy for his side to become frustrated in a game where they missed from the penalty spot and had two goals chalked off. Instead, they continued to play their football, picking Livingston apart and creating chances almost at will.

Clement spoke about wanting to get his whole squad up to speed before the hectic winter period, and there was a tick in the box for Tom Lawrence who showed his creative qualities to set up the opening goal. Cyriel Dessers getting on the scoresheet again can only help his confidence after a rough start to life in Glasgow.

For Livingston, games against Rangers won't define their season, but they were desperately poor.

David Martindale spoke pre-match about needing to pose an attacking threat, but they only had nine touches in Rangers' box and registered just one shot on target. They have failed to score in their last four outings, have the second worst attacking record in the league and the joint-worst defensive record.

Martindale and Livingston have punched above their weight for so long, but something has to change quickly if they are to avoid a relegation battle this season.

Livingston: George, Penrice, Devlin, De Lucas, Montano, Pittman, Sangare, Kelly, Shinnie, Nouble, Anderson.

Substitutes: Hamilton, Parkes, Kelly, Brandon, Bradley, Welch-Hayes, Holt, Lloyd, Guthrie.

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic, Jack, Lundstram, McCausland, Lawrence, Sima, Dessers.

Substitutes: McCrorie, Yilmaz, Cantwell, Lammers, Cifuentes, Sterling, Roofe, Davies, Danilo.

Livingston manager David Martindale is hoping his struggling Livingston team can rise to the occasion and find a way of halting a Rangers side he feels are "in a good place" under new boss Philippe Clement.

The Ibrox team head to the Tony Macaroni Arena on Sunday in buoyant mood after winning five and drawing one of their six matches since the Belgian replaced Michael Beale last month.

"They're unbeaten so that tells you everything you need to know," said Martindale when asked what he has made of Rangers under Clement.

"He's gone in and got a good start so that then breeds a bit of momentum, which breeds self-confidence and self-esteem in the players, so ultimately you're probably getting better performances from the players.

"I think he's done a very good job and they're in a good place as a club."

While Rangers have enjoyed a resurgence since their managerial change, Livingston have lost their last four matches to slip towards the foot of the Premiership.

"You're at home and you've got the opportunity to go and pick up three points against one of the biggest clubs in the league," said Martindale.

"It kind of lifts the atmosphere throughout the training week and you probably find the players are a wee bit more at it and there are not as many players in the physio's room in the lead-up to the game.

"It brings a different kind of matchday atmosphere."

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Livingston welcome back Cristian Montano after a two-game suspension, while goalkeeper Shamal George is fit to return after a minor injury caused him to be dropped to the bench for two matches.

Ayo Obileye has recovered from a foot injury but may not be risked.

Defenders Leon Balogun and Ridvan Yilmaz return to the fold after missing Rangers' Europa League win over Sparta Prague on Thursday night as they are not in the European squad.

Midfielder Nicolas Raskin (ankle), defender John Souttar (muscle problem) and Rabbi Matondo (knee) remain out.

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Livingston defender Mikey Devlin has praised manager David Martindale for believing in him despite his prior injury woes.

Devlin played just seven times in the last three seasons, but has managed 14 already this campaign.

“It’s been brilliant,” he said. “I’m enjoying my football, I’m enjoying being fit and healthy and available for selection.

“The manager has shown a level of confidence and faith in me, that he believes I can be fit and contribute to the team, although he might be questioning what I’ve been contributing the last few games, to be fair!

“I had a good period of being fit and available for selection between January and the summer but the next step for me was to play consistent football and coming here has given me that opportunity.

“It’s up to me now to repay the faith shown in me by the manager with a level of performance that is required for Livingston in the Premiership.”

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