Livingston

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• Kilmarnock have won three of their past four top-fight matches against Livingston (D1), as many as their previous 11 beforehand (W3 D1 L7).

• Livingston have lost eight of their past 10 top-fight away games at Kilmarnock (W2), including each of their last three in a row.

• Kilmarnock have won on matchday one in just two of their past 14 top-fight seasons (D4 L8), although both were home wins (2-0 v St Johnstone in 2018-19 and 1-0 v Rangers in 2023-24).

• Since 2011-12, only two of 18 newly-promoted sides have lost on the opening of a Scottish top-fight season (W5 D11), although the last of those was Livingston in 2018-19, who lost 3-1 to Celtic (also Hamilton losing 2-0 to Inverness CT in 2014-15).

• Livingston haven't won on matchday one of a top-fight campaign since 2004-05 (3-0 v Inverness CT), failing in seven attempts since (D2 L5).

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The "passion and desire" of Scottish football helped Livingston sign DR Congo Jeremy Bokila despite more lucrative offers in the Dutch Eredivisie, says manager David Martindale.

Bokila, 36, is set for a debut in Saturday's Premiership opener at Kilmarnock after moving from top-flight club Willem II.

Having previously turned out in Belgium, Romania, Turkey, Russia, China and the United States, Bokila was keen to try his hand in Scotland.

Martindale said: "Jeremy had offers to stay in the top tier of Holland, but he wanted a new challenge.

"He's 36 years old, he's played the top tier over there, he's played top tier a few countries.

"He was aware of Scottish football and the passion surrounding Scottish football.

"So it definitely wasn't a financial decision for Jeremy because he would have had better offers, but it was just that new experience for him coming to the latter stages of his career.

"He wants to go and try something different and the passion and desire of Scottish football attracted him to Scotland.

"I just think the passion within Scottish football is phenomenal. We've got lower crowds but the atmosphere is still really, really vibrant.

"I've been to bigger stadiums over the years in different countries. There's maybe 20-25,000 but it's nowhere near the atmosphere that 5,000 Scottish football fans can make.

"I think per capita we're one of the best supported leagues in Europe, maybe the world. But that just shows you the passion is there."

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

Where will you finish in the league and why?

Contrary to popular opinion I think we will finish ninth. We've signed well, our manager has the experience to get through a tough campaign, and above all we have a bit of momentum.

Who is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?

Macaulay Tait was in pole position for best signing but in the last few weeks we pinned Robbie Muirhead to a long-term deal, which is a brilliant move. I'm also very excited about Adam Montgomery, who has joined on loan from Celtic.

What do you want from your manager this season?

More of the same attacking football and sound game management that served us so well in the Championship. Really want to have a feelgood factor about the place - even when the going gets tough. He's the most successful Livi manager in my book and arguably the best, so in Davie we trust.

Who will be the breakout star in your squad?

He's not exactly a breakout but look out for goalkeeper Jerome Prior getting well-deserved recognition. We did really well to tie him down for a few years. Prior was excellent last season but still went under the radar a little. He'll be busier this season but he's got what it takes to play at an even bigger club.

What is your one major concern?

Scoring goals. We were rock solid defensively last season and would have had a bigger shout to win the league if we could have put the ball in the net more, particularly to turn draws into wins.

Muirhead's goals got us out of jail last season and he will be key again, but others need to pitch in as well. We've added a bit more height this season so set-pieces could be our way to get those goals.

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Livingston have announced the signing of striker Jeremy Bokila from Dutch side Willem II after receiving international clearance.

Bokila, 36, has played in the Netherlands, Belgium, Romania, Russia, China, Turkey, Qatar and the USA during a long and varied career.

He has represented DR Congo on 20 occasions, scoring six goals.

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Livingston will host Hibernian in the second round of the League Cup.

Livi secured their spot as one of the best runners-up with a 6-0 thrashing of Kelty Hearts on Saturday.

Ties are due to be played on the weekend of 16th/17th August.

We asked for your views on Livingston's League Cup win.

Here is what some of you said:

Malky: Livi need to win and progress as far as possible in the cups this season to cement their ambitions.

Craig: As well as Livingston played, Kelty were pretty poor. Promising start for Adam Montgomery, and Robbie Muirhead looks as though he will be a handful in the Premiership. Midfield was solid with Mo Sylla a good addition. Hard graft starts next week at Rugby Park for what will be a challenging season back in the Premiership.

John: Livingston were superb today. Free-flowing football on their bowling green, state-of-the-art new pitch.

Del: Perfect.

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Livingston manager David Martindale reckons their new artificial surface is helping his side get up to speed in games quicker.

The West Lothian club's pitch was upgraded this summer to the 'newest version' of the surface.

Martindale's side secured their spot as one of the best runners-up with a 6-0 thrashing of Kelty Hearts, finishing second in Group H behind top-flight rivals Kilmarnock.

Two goals from Robbie Muirhead and others from Andy Winter, debutant Adam Montgomery, Stevie May and Shane Blaney ensured David Martindale's side a place in the draw for the next round.

"I thought the boys played really well," Martindale said.

"I think the surface is really, really helping us at getting our speed into the game, and we started the game really well.

"I thought Andy Winters was brilliant today, there wasn't anyone who wasn't getting pass marks today.

"We limited the opposition to very little."

Aidan Denholm, who signed a three-year deal from Hearts and made his Livingston debut off the bench, picked up an injury in the game, something his manager takes some responsibility for.

"I feel a wee bit sorry for Aidan, he's hurt his hamstring again," added Martindale.

"He was desperate to play. He's done a full pre-season with Hearts, and I was desperate to integrate him into the squad, so maybe I've got to take a wee bit of responsibility there.

"But I don't think it's anywhere near as bad as it's previously been. The wee man's gutted. You don't want to be coming into a club, make your debut and go off injured but it's football.

"We'll stick by him and make sure he's got a good group around him. That was the only disappointing aspect of the game."

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Livingston have signed Aidan Denholm from fellow top-flight club Hearts on a three-year deal.

The 21-year-old midfielder spent the start of last season on loan at Ross County, but his stay in Dingwall was cut short due to injury.

Denholm made his debut for Hearts in 2021, before loan moves to Berwick Rangers, East Fife, and County.

He is on the Livingston bench for their League Cup match with Kelty Hearts.

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Celtic defender Adam Montgomery has joined fellow Premiership side Livingston on a season-long loan.

The 23-year-old moves to the newly-promoted Lions having spent last term with Championship outfit Queen's Park, playing 14 games and scoring once.

Montgomery has made 20 appearances for Celtic but hasn't featured since December 2021, with a raft subsequent loan spells including Aberdeen and St Johnstone.

Livingston are in pole position to land 21-year-old midfielder Aidan Denholm from Hearts despite Scottish Premiership rivals Motherwell also being keen along with Championship pair Ross County and St Johnstone. (Daily Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Hearts' 21-year-old midfielder, Aidan Denholm, is wanted by Livingston, Motherwell and Ross County. (Joel Sked on X), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Livingston are set to announce the signing of Jeremy Bokila after securing a work permit for the striker.

Manager David Martindale attended a work permit hearing on Thursday in a bid to sign the 36-year-old DR Congo international from Willem II, who were relegated from the Dutch top flight last season.

The positive news comes as the West Lothian side secured a 2-0 Premier Sports Cup win over Brora Rangers, and Martindale is focused on getting further options for his squad.

"We got the work permit for a number nine to give us options up top," Martindale said in a club video.

"Going into the Premiership, you need offensive options, that's where games are won and lost.

"We are looking at bringing a left-back in, we are looking at bringing an eight in, and we have a nine in the building. It will be announced soon."

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Midfielder Reece McAlear has left Livingston to join Championship side St Johnstone for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old made 37 appearances for Livingston and scored four goals in their Championship promotion campaign after moving from Tranmere Rovers last summer.

McAlear, who has penned a two-year deal, becomes St Johnstone's second signing of the day after former Hibs midfielder Stephen Mallan.

"I'm a player who likes to get on the ball and dominate the ball. I know the league very well and hopefully that can benefit the team," said McAlear.

"It's a chance for me to play more football and I really am excited to get going."

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Versatile left-sided attacker Cristian Montano has signed a new two-year contract as Livingston prepare for their Premiership return.

Colombian Montano, 33, has made 119 appearances for David Martindale's side and has 11 goals to his name.

He was a bright light during Livingston's last season in the top flight two campaigns ago after joining in 2021 from Port Vale.

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David Martindale believes Livingston were "unlucky" to lose 1-0 away to Kilmarnock on Wednesday, but was heartened by the level of his side's performance.

Livingston had chance after chance in Ayrshire, but were unable to convert and were made to rue a lapse of concentration at the back as Mo Sylla put through his own net following a miscued punch by goalkeeper Jerome Prior.

"There were a lot of positives," Martindale told BBC Scotland. "We were unlucky to come away with nothing. We created the better chances.

"We controlled large parts of the game. We're not used to losing games of football, so it's important we put the performance in front of the result. We got into some great areas, but that wee bit of calmness was all that was missing."

Martindale will attend a work permit hearing on Thursday in a bid to sign 36-year-old DR Congo international striker Jeremy Bokila from Willem II, who were relegated from the Dutch top flight last season.

"I'm pretty confident it will get passed, he is coming from a real top level," he said.

"And then there's two younger ones who I'm speaking to their parent clubs about. Whether that's going to be loans or permanent deals…

"If I can get those three players in the building this week or early next week, I'll be over the moon with what we've got, although we would need to trim the squad a bit."

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Livingston are closing in on a forward signing, providing they get a "positive result" from a work permit panel on Thursday, says manager David Martindale.

Martindale told BBC Scotland the attacking player spent time with his side during their pre-season camp in the Netherlands and "showed up really well".

The Livingston boss also revealed the club are in talks about another addition, adding: "We're also speaking to another club about a potential loan/permanent and there are one or two to move on from us.

"If the window shut today, I would be fairly happy. But if we can add one or two more and balance the books with one or two going the other way, that'll be great."

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Livingston striker Robbie Muirhead has signed a contract extension running until 2027, the Scottish Premiership club have confirmed.

The 29-year-old was integral to the West Lothian side's promotion last term, scoring 19 goals and providing nine assists across 48 appearances.

The forward finished the season as Livingston's top goalscorer and won the club's players' player of the year.

Muirhead has already opened his account this campaign, netting the opener in Saturday's 2-1 League Cup group win over East Fife.

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Jamie Brandon is prepared for a tough test in "quite a quick turnaround" as he prepares to face his old club when Kilmarnock welcome Livingston to Rugby Park on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old left the West Lothian side after captaining the team to top-flight promotion last term.

Now the right-back is preparing for a "strange" fixture against his old club in the Scottish League Cup group stage.

"It will be enjoyable obviously. I know everyone there very well and know how they like to work," said Brandon.

"It will be a tough test and they're a competitive team so it's one I'm looking forward to. With the draw and then the first league game as well - nice and quick playing against them.

"I do find it a little bit strange. Obviously I was there for three years and I only just left not long ago and you're back playing against them.

"So it's quite a quick turnaround but it's one I'm looking forward to and I want to showcase what us at Kilmarnock can do against them."

The defender became Stuart Kettlewell's first signing after three seasons at Livingston.

Brandon reflected on his time with his former team but insists he is hopeful for more success at his new club.

"It was a time I really enjoyed and I think particularly last season, it was a successful year and probably where I played my best football in my career, so I look back with fond memories," he added.

Meanwhile, Kilmarnock have announced a co-operation agreement with Annan Athletic.

Zander Craik, Josh Gilmour and Duncan Barlow will head to Galabank as part of the agreement, which focuses on boosting opportunities for young Scottish players.

The Rugby Park club say "this is a flexible loan agreement that allows players to move between the sides" during the campaign.

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David Martindale thinks Livingston are "a little bit undercooked" going into their second Premier Sports Cup group game against fellow Premiership side Kilmarnock on Wednesday.

Livi kicked off their campaign with a narrow win over League 1 East Fife and now face Killie - who defeated Brora Rangers on Saturday - who they also open their league season against on Saturday, 2 August.

Martindale believes Wednesday's game is going to be "a hell of a lot different" to their meeting next month.

"It's early in the season, so it's one of the ones, if you win it, you'll probably say you can use it as a barometer," the manager said. "If you don't, you can't.

"I think we're a wee bit undercooked going into it.

"I think this game is going to be a hell of a lot different from what the first league game is going to be.

"So I think both teams will be a wee bit cagey, sussing each other out, but come the first league game, I think it'll be a totally different game that you see from both teams."

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Goalkeeper Jerome Prior has signed a new three-year deal with Livingston which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2028.

The 29-year-old joined David Martindale's side from Pau FC last summer and went on to make 44 appearances last term and kept 22 clean sheets - the highest of any Livingston goalkeeper in a single season.

Prior played a pivotal role in a campaign that saw Livi concede the second-fewest goals across the SPFL and secure an immediate return to the top flight thanks to their play-off win over Ross County.