Livingston

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Livingston boss David Martindale is backing Celtic counterpart Wilfried Nancy to be a success in the Scottish Premiership despite a difficult start.

Nancy picked up his first win last weekend with a 3-1 victory over Aberdeen in his fifth game in charge, leaving his side six points behind leaders Hearts with a game in hand.

The Frenchman has come under fire from supporters for being unable to pick up results the way interim boss Martin O'Neill did.

But Martindale, whose side host Celtic on Saturday, has backed the new boss and the club's decision to bring him in during a really busy period.

"The manager is available, so why would you not bring them in?" the Livi boss said.

"It's all hindsight. Everybody's great with hindsight these days and social media is full of hindsight expertise.

"You had to bring Wilfried in, he's going to be the manager.

"So Wilfried comes in, a bit of a rocky start. Roma, wee bit different, the League Cup final, I think St Mirren were the better team over the course so I'm not going to say he was unlucky there because I do feel they deserved the victory.

"The Dundee United game, I think Jim [Goodwin] alluded to this himself, I think they could have been 3-0 or 4-0 down in the first half.

"And in the Aberdeen game, they've played a lot of the game against 10 men but I think they've hit the bar and the post five times in 15 minutes so I'm not really buying any of that narrative of poor Celtic, poor Wilfried.

"The plethora of players that he's got available to choose from and the longer he's going to be in the club, I think the stronger they are going to get."

Nancy immediately switched to a back three, the former Columbus Crew boss' preferred system, and the players seemed to struggle with the change early on.

But Martindale believes it's only a matter of time before things start to click.

"You bring a coach in with not really any coaching experience in Scotland and I think there's always going to be that adaptation period," he added.

"And then you probably throw in there a change of shape, it means it'll be a bit more difficult again.

"But if you're a coach and your philosophy has a certain style of play, why would you wait to implement it? Because surely the quicker you implement it the better you get at it.

"So for me, I find some of the comments I've seen on social media and some of the comments I've heard on television really extreme and really disappointing but it's the modern-day game. I am not really surprised by them."

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

Bottom of the league at Christmas doesn't bode well for staying up this season.

I do believe have the quality and performances to turn things around, however we are running out of games to do so. Even ChatGPT was a bit stumped when I asked what teams bottom of the pile at Christmas that stayed up (it eventually came up with four).

The manager has faith, I think the player do believe too and as a fan you have also got to have faith we can stay up.

There is a bit of a split emerging between the fans on the future of the manager. It's getting a wee bit angry too. Personally, I find it appalling that fans call for people to be sacked and the press stoke that fire with negative speculation too. Fans are entitled to voice opinions but do we really think there is better out there than Davie Martindale that can do what he has done on this budget? I doubt it. Some of the names people shout for are just random and often don't make sense given they are likely out of work from having been let go for lack of success previously.

A win against Dundee United and something from the Celtic game and the fans will forget the bickering to get behind the team.

I am actually looking forward to the visit of the current champions. It's the idealist against the pragmatist.

Celtic are in transition and do look vulnerable to long, quick passes behind their defenders or to the corners. They don't look comfortable with a good old dose of getintaethem as well. We're pretty decent at both so I do think we'll get something here.

It won't be easy but if the players can keep off the turkey and focus on doing what we have been doing well, I believe we will start picking up points in this round of festive fixtures.

Sportscene pundit Neil McCann analyses Livingston's survival hopes after the 1-0 defeat to Dundee extended their winless run to 15 league games and kept them three points adrift at the bottom.

Watch highlights as St Mirren win 1-0 against Livingston in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Livingston's 1-0 defeat against St Mirren.

Here's what some of you said:

Steven: Six wins in our last 53 top flight matches. Not a single question of the manager's position from anyone other than the fans. We are no longer Livingston, we're just David Martindale's play thing, propped up by puppets in his control.

Thomas: No idea why Robbie Muirhead doesn't get more starts, makes a difference every time he comes off the bench and was a key starter last year.

Malky: It's looking like a bleak Christmas, I don't think even Santa could deliver us a win. It's a three horse race to stay up unfortunately.

League Cup winners St Mirren kept the feelgood factor flowing this festive season after a narrow Scottish Premiership victory over Livingston gave them a third consecutive win.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say here.

Livingston manager David Martindale: "Big moment in the game, we don't defend it well enough and we lose 1-0. It's kind of been the story of the majority of the season.

"I don't think we dominated a lot of the game. We defended, for the majority, our box really well. There's one moment they get in behind us and that leads to the goal. We've underperformed in terms of the points return in comparison to performances.

"The January window, the club's going to need to go out and find players and that's something that we're actively doing. We're going to have to go out and get reinforcements to try and make sure we stay in the league."

"There's two in the building already. One's a transfer that all the paperwork's done, we wait on the window opening, one's a pre-contract already to go on 1 January. Those two will help but there's probably going to be another three or four we're looking to bring in."

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St Mirren have lost Keana Baccus to a long-term hamstring tendon injury but captain Mark O'Hara is closing in on a return from a foot problem.

Malik Dijksteel sat out last weekend's League Cup final with a fitness issue.

Livingston defender Ryan McGowan is suspended while Cammy Kerr (groin), Aidan Denholm and Shane Blaney (both hamstring) and Adam Montgomery (calf) remain on the sidelines.

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Livingston manager David Martindale believes St Mirren's League Cup triumph was "just rewards" for the way they have been run over many years.

The sides go head-to-head in Paisley on Saturday with Livingston bottom of the Premiership and desperate for a first win since August.

In contrast, St Mirren are still on a high after beating Wilfried Nancy's Celtic 3-1 at Hampden on Sunday, their first major trophy in 12 years.

Despite that, Martindale is confident his side can come away with something if they play to their full potential.

"I've got a lot of respect for [Stephen Robison] and what he's done at the club," Martindale said.

"Very, very well-run football club that are getting their just rewards for that continuity they've kept in the building, style of play, how they want to play, their manager, their players they've recruited every window, they enhance their club.

"There's a lot to be said about how St Mirren run their football club and how Robbo and his staff manage that group of players.

"It was well deserved [winning the League Cup]. Going to Paisley is a difficult game of football on the back of anything, win, lose or draw. I know it's going to be a difficult game on Saturday.

"I don't think any team goes and enjoys going to play football in Paisley and that's testament to Robbo and his staff.

"It's going to be a difficult game but I think it's definitely one we can get something from. But you need to work extremely hard if you're going to get anything from the game from a really tough St Mirren team who have had a lot of success in recent years."

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• Fresh from his brace in St Mirren's League Cup final win over Celtic, Jonah Ayunga has three goals in his past three appearances in all competitions – just one fewer than his previous 42 beforehand (four). Ayunga has never found the net in back-to-back matches for the club before.

• St Mirren are unbeaten in nine Scottish Premiership games at home to Livingston (W5 D4) since a 2-0 defeat in August 2018.

• After their 1-0 win in February 2024, Livingston could secure back-to-back Premiership wins over St Mirren for the first time since December 2018.

• After their 2-0 win over Dundee United, St Mirren could rack up successive home league victories for just the second time since the start of last season, previously doing so in March/April 2025.

• Livingston have just one win in their 16 league games this season (D6 L9), the fewest by any side in their opening 16 matches of a Scottish top-flight campaign since Gretna in 2007-08 (also one).

Aberdeen first-team coach Peter Leven is the bookmakers' favourite to be Kilmarnock's new manager, ahead of Livingston's David Martindale and interim boss Kris Doolan. (The Scotsman), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Former Scotland and Aberdeen defender Mikey Devlin has announced his retirement from professional football at age 32.

He had been without a club for six months after being released by Ayr United in the summer.

Devlin made his professional debut with Hamilton, where he racked up almost 150 appearances in a seven-year spell, before joining Aberdeen in 2018.

He won his three Scotland caps in October and November 2019, but was blighted by injuries in the final five years of his career, including stints at Hibernian and Livingston.

Confirming his retirement on LinkedIn, external, Devlin wrote: "After a lot of reflection and contemplation, I feel ready for it. To walk away from a job that was my dream, something I loved deeply and my identity for vast majority of my life was, and is, a challenge. That being said, not only do I feel ready, I feel excited about what's next.

"I'm incredibly proud of what I achieved in my career. Without doubt, representing my country is the highlight.

"The highs and lows are expected, to a degree, but football has the potential to take you to places mentally which you don't have the capacity to make sense of. This was certainly the greatest challenge I faced personally.

"I consider myself unbelievably fortunate to have experienced what I have throughout my 16 years as a professional. I played for brilliant clubs and worked with amazing people."

Devlin will continue as chair of PFA Scotland where he also takes on a new full-time role as head of projects, adding: "I hope my lived experience as a player can influence and guide me as I seek to support and drive change for every other footballer in Scotland."

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

It was the day of the desperate for Livi fans.

We were all desperate for a much-needed win. Dundee were desperate for the same and the game was played in desperate weather conditions.

In the end there is a bit of a 'meh' feeling about the outcome. I can't fault the players' efforts and work to fight back from 2-0 down for a point, but leaking two easily defendable goals left me feeling, well, a bit more desperate.

Credit goes to Stevie May for coming on and playing a blinder. He was industrious, creating spaces with his runs and making things happen on the ball. May was only on 20 minutes but was player of the match for me.

There's a question mark over the changes to the starting line-up. May on the bench, along with Sammy Lawal and the much-improved Tete Yengi, was a puzzler, as is perennial substitute Robbie Muirhead – our best attacker last season.

All those benched players have been good in recent weeks and how the Livi fans would love to see more of Muirhead leading the line for more than the closing five minutes.

We desperately needed three points to cut the gap on our fellow strugglers from Tayside. Instead, it is as you were and a feeling of missed opportunity.

The festive period is crucial for us and next up are St Mirren, who will hopefully still be nursing hangovers from the mother of all parties that followed their League Cup win.

Watch Sportscene pundits Steven Thompson and Stephen Craigan discuss Livingston's Premiership survival chances after their 2-2 draw at home to Dundee.

Watch all the highlights as Livingston came from behind to draw 2-2 with Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

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Livingston manager David Martindale admits he's looking to bring "game changers" to West Lothian in the January window.

Livi remain without a win since August after fighting back from 2-0 down to snatch a draw against Dundee on Saturday.

Martindale's side sit bottom of the Premiership and the boss knows he needs to add more quality in the final third to maintain Premiership survival.

"We've got squad quality but if you look at what we're bringing in in the January window, probably 75 per cent of that recruitment is focused on the offensive areas," he said.

"I'm learning very, very quickly and I think most most managers would tell you the same, the game changes at the top end.

"You can control as much of the game as you want, have as much possession in the game as you want, have as many shots as you possibly want, but see if you're missing that little bit of quality it's difficult.

"It's those game changers, the game changers at the top end of the park. That's the difference in the Premiership for me.

"You can get away with it maybe slightly in the Championship, but in the Premiership you don't get away with it.

"So most of the recruitment is going to be focused on the forward areas going into the January window."

We asked for your thoughts after Livingston came from behind to draw 2-2 at home to Dundee.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Oscar: Need to tighten the defence next time out so the team don't find themselves two goals down again. Fairly satisfying in possession, though, and a dominant second half. Positives to take and looking forward to the St Mirren match.

Paul: We needed to win this game. I really like David Martindale and I don't believe we will get rid of him so it's a bit of resignation that we might be heading back down to the Championship without making a better fist of it this time around. We understand as fans our station in the Scottish football pantheon and it's brilliant being the perennial underdog but I really thought we would make a better fist of it this season. I feel Davie would be happy with us back in the champ as it's a level where we don't need to be defensive all the time and I can kind of resonate with that but we need a bit more from this season. If we are to go back down let's do it swinging rather than like the previous Premiership campaign which was with a whimper.

Michael: Just like two years ago, we don't work opposition goalkeepers enough. Ratio of shots on target to actual shots is not good enough. Goalkeepers and defenders do make mistakes but a shot going six inches wide will never lead to a goal.

Malcolm: So we have 'won' another point. First half was pretty guff, how they scored and we didn't I'll never know. They were really poor at the back and it was our opportunity to get the goals we are so desperately needing. Massive credit to the team, staff, and manager for the second half though. What a change. Good substitutions, and whatever Martindale said at half time did the trick. Maybe that's our springboard for Paisley next week.

Malky: Shocking first half, team selection baffling. Stevie May was the usual workman when the manager saw sense to bring him on. Full credit to the players for giving the supporters a good second 45.

Liam: Championship next season, hopefully with a new man at the helm.

Bottom-side Livingston roared back from two goals down to save a precious Scottish Premiership point against struggling Dundee in a momentum-swinging match.

Have your say.

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Livingston manager David Martindale: "We should have won the game. The two goals we give away are embarassing, really, really poor.

"We weren't under any danger at that point. I was thinking how did we find ourselves 2-0 down?

"When you watch the goals back, you understand. But I give the players a lot of credit.

"I don't think the first-half performance was terrible, apart from the defending for the goals.

"But there's a big reaction from the players. We do extremely well to get back into the game, the subs had a big impact.

"There's a mix of frustration, disappointment, and relief. Overall in the game we were the better team and controlled it.

"We created a lot of chances but again I'm standing here and we've drawn a game of football."

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Livingston winger Connor McLennan is yet to return from a concussion while Cammy Kerr (groin), Aidan Denholm and Shane Blaney (both hamstring) and Adam Montgomery (calf) remain on the sidelines.

Dundee are set to be without Joe Westley (ankle) until February, while Clark Robertson (thigh), Callum Jones and Yan Dhanda (both foot) are all struggling.

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Livingston defender Danny Wilson admits they are getting to the stage where points must come before performances.

Livi have generally been very competitive this season but a 3-0 defeat at Motherwell last weekend left them four points adrift at the foot of the Premiership.

David Martindale's side have not won in 14 matches but have been on the end of six late winning goals and some dubious refereeing decisions.

And they can cut the gap to one point when they host Dundee on Saturday.

Wilson said: "Things have to change soon, we're almost halfway through the season and we've got nowhere near enough points on the board.

"For various reasons that's the case. We've shot ourselves in the foot sometimes while we've also had performances like Saturday that just won't cut it at this level.

"We've got an opportunity this weekend against somebody who aren't too far off us points-wise and we don't want to get any further adrift from them.

"I don't think we should be calling it a must-win. But, if we want to have any sort of impact this season we have to start putting points on the board - and that starts on Saturday.

"Any sort of win against someone you're in touching distance with is important.

"We've said too many times this season that the points don't reflect the performances. At this point I would honestly take the points over performance. We don't want to get too adrift. We have to close the gap."

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Already four points adrift of visitors Dundee at the foot of the table, Saturday's is a game Livingston can little afford to lose if they are to retain hopes of avoiding at the very least a play-off to avoid relegation.

David Martindale seems to be in with the bricks at Almondvale, so there is less speculation about his future than there is about visiting head coach Steven Pressley or Stuart Kettlewell, whose Kilmarnock side are also in freefall and level on points with Dundee.

However, Livingston's manager is increasingly looking a forlorn and frustrated, even resigned, figure as he prepares to enter his sixth year as manager.

No wonder after 14 games without a win and three defeats in a row, culminating in Saturday's 3-0 defeat in Motherwell.

Yet only Celtic and Hibernian, two other top-five sides, have also beaten Livingston by more than a single goal during that run.

Dundee have won their latest four meetings, including their two visits to West Lothian two seasons ago - and by 3-2 in the reverse fixture at Dens Park in September.

However, Pressley's side are themselves on a dismal run of one victory in seven, losing the other six, and have lost six in a row on the road - their worst run since 2005 - and failed to score in the latest four.

That should give Martindale some hope that his side, who have had the worst top-flight start since Falkirk in 2009-10, can record only their second league win of the season and narrow that gap at the bottom.

Read all this weekend's Premiership picks.