Livingston

Image source, BBC Sport

Seven Premiership defeats in a row.

What did you make of the Hibs performance and what needs to change if Livingston are to get out of the situation they're in?

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Livingston manager David Martindale told BBC Scotland: "I look at the game, I think we were really unlucky not to take anything from the game. I thought the players' application, effort, intensity was all there.

"I thought there was a penalty in the first half for Kurtis Guthrie. I'm disappointed the on-field referee wasn't asked to go and look at that.

"I've got to take full responsibility. I've got big enough shoulders.

Asked if he'll stay in his position, he says: "It's not up to me. I've got a January window coming up and we can bring players in. Do I need to make the squad stronger? Of course I do.

"We played against a very good Hibs side today. I'm not trying to make excuses.

"I chose to be here. I'm up for the fight. I'm up for the challenge."

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Sean McGill, BBC Sport Scotland

When these sides last met in August, they both seemed so far away from the current entities that stepped out in the rain at Almondvale.

Based off that showing on a summer's day in the sunshine on Leith, Livingston looked destined for another season of defying expectation.

Martindale's side showed flashes of the outfit that has impressed the top-flight for years, but the grit and guile that had become synonymous with this side has seemingly seeped away.

Seven losses in a row, the last six without scoring. That makes them first team to suffer six successive top-flight defeats with no goals since Aberdeen in 1999.

The manager maintains that the changing room holds the necessary quality to escape the self-admitted "crisis" they find themselves in.

With every passing week, the lack of evidence to back up that belief up leaves Livingston languishing.

Kurtis Guthrie was a proper handful for the Hibs centre-halves, particularly in the first half an hour or so.

The striker was incredulous when he wasn't awarded a penalty after he went down under contact from Joe Newell.

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It's been two weeks since Livingston last kicked a ball, suffering a 1-0 defeat by St Mirren in Paisley.

David Martindale makes two changes from a fortnight ago, with forwards Joel Nouble and Bruce Anderson replaced by defenders Jamie Brandon and Ayo Obileye.

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Image source, BBC Sport

Livingston: George, Brandon, Devlin, Nottingham, Obileye, Penrice, Kelly, Holt, Pittman, Guthrie, Shinnie.

Substitutes: Hamilton, Parkes, Anderson, Kelly, Welch-Hayes, Nouble, Sangare, Lloyd, Lawal.

Hibernian: Marshall, Whittaker, Fish, Hanlon, Obita, Levitt, Newell, Boyle, Vente, Youan, Tavares.

Substitutes: Wollacott, Jeggo, Stevenson, Doidge, Harbottle, Delferriere, Campbell, Bushiri, Molotnikov.

Image source, BBC Sport

Livingston could have defenders Ayo Obileye (foot) and Cristian Montano (hamstring) back in their squad.

Hibs should have Jordan Obita back after a hamstring injury while Dylan Vente is fully fit after sitting out the midweek defeat against Celtic as a precaution following a slight knock. Long-term absentees Adam Le Fondre (hamstring), Jake Doyle-Hayes (ankle), Harry McKirdy (heart) and Chris Cadden (Achilles) are all still unavailable.

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David Martindale is relishing the opportunity to get Livingston back on the pitch after two weeks without a game.

Last week's home match against Ross County was delayed due to a frozen pitch, but the Lions still have two games on the bounce at home (Hibs then Kilmarnock) - and Martindale reckons they can beat anyone on their day at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

"We were going into a run of three games at home, which were going to be pivotal for us before the County game got delayed," Martindale said.

"We're at home (against Hibs) and if we're at home, no matter who we play, we've always got a chance.

"It's much more difficult going to Ibrox, Celtic Park, Tynecastle, Easter Road or Pittodrie, but when any of these teams come to Livingston we've got a good opportunity if we perform on the day."

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St Johnstone defender Ryan McGowan says Hibs will face a “notoriously tough” test when they face Livingston on Saturday.

Livi currently sit bottom of the Premiership table and are four points from safety.

“It wasn't so long ago that we [St Johnstone] were kind of cut adrift from everybody and Livingston have shown over the years that when everyone's kind of doubting them, that's when they can get a big result,” McGowan said on the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast.

“At the same time, Hibs have done well under Nick Montgomery, albeit not setting the world on fire, but they've just gone about their business relatively well in terms of picking up points and being hard to beat.

“Livingston is a notoriously tough place to go and it will be a big test for Hibs going there, if they wanted to try and get third or fourth and be up there, they need to be going to places like Livingston and winning comfortably.

“At the same time, Livingston will be looking at it as a game that they can get three points in and keep in touch with everybody else.”

BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English insists Livi need to score against a Hibs side who are coming into form.

“Livi have gone five without scoring and I think the last team to go six without scoring in the league is Aberdeen in 1999,” said English.

“So, something positive needs to happen at Livi pretty soon because that team looks in absolute freefall.

“David Martindale has lost that kind of mad energy that he had, he's more of a subdued character this season.

“There's a lot going on behind the scenes at Livingston, that is a troubled club and Hibs, despite the result the other night, Hibs have picked up, they're not in bad form at all.”

• Livingston have won five of their last seven league meetings with Hibernian (L2), as many as in their previous 19 top-flight games against Hibs beforehand (W5 D4 L10).

• Hibernian won their last league visit to Livingston 4-1 in March last season; Hibs last won successive top-flight visits to Livingston in November 2005 under Tony Mowbray.

• Livingston have lost each of their last six league games, the last five of which without scoring. The last side to lose six successive Scottish top-flight games without scoring were Aberdeen in September 1999.

• Hibernian have only won two of their last 13 away league games (D6 L5), wins at Aberdeen in September (2-0) and Dundee in November (2-1).

• Against no side does Hibernian’s Christian Doidge have more Scottish Premiership goals than he has versus Livingston (4, level with St. Mirren). Doidge has as many goals in the competition this term as he netted the whole of last (3).

After six games without a win, David Martindale will be hoping his side can turn their fortunes around when Livingston host Hibs on Saturday.

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