Livingston

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

Ourselves and Falkirk have had contrasting fortunes so far since stepping up from the Championship in the summer.

The Bairns, who currently sit fifth, have burst out of the blocks with some good results in the first few months of the season whereas we have stumbled a little and are a point adrift at the bottom.

Performances have been decent but we've not got the points we would like to have at this stage.

We've got half the points Falkirk have - and half of our points are from them! However, they just can't seem to beat us and the Bairns fans I know are seething at that.

They must have been in full-on rage when the evergreen Danny Wilson bulleted his last-minute header into the net. Wonderful stuff.

With back-to-back draws we are slowly but surely getting points on the board. Next step has to be converting draws into wins.

We've got some key players out injured and they look like they are well on the way to returning soon.

We've badly missed Ryan McGowan in the last few weeks. If we can get him fit and our defenders playing in their natural positions we can get the clean sheets we will need to start chalking up wins.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Livingston struck late against Falkirk to earn a point through Danny Wilson's header.

The centre-back earns a spot in my team of the week as a result.

We asked for your views on Livingston's 1-1 draw against Falkirk.

Here's what some of you said:

Malcolm: Same as last week, we found the fighting spirit that we've been lacking so far. A point seemed fair, and if we continue like this the wins will come. I usually agree with David Martindale, but he needs too stop blaming VAR for stuff. Although it went against us I think it did its job right this time. The team has turned a corner, now let's push for some wins.

Malky: Another point, another get out of jail goal. Livi have to have more of a 90 minutes mentality than excuses about what they're capable of. They've got the squad to do it.

Watch all the highlights as Livingston score late equaliser to hold Falkirk to a 1-1 draw in the Scottish Premiership.

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Livingston captain Danny Wilson feels his side deserve a better points return than they have acquired so far and says they are "not satisfied" at propping up the Scottish Premiership.

His late header rescued a point for David Martindale's side in the 1-1 draw away to Falkirk after trailing to Brian Graham's early penalty.

For the second match in a row, Livingston struck in the dying minutes to earn a draw after consistent late concessions cost them in previous fixtures.

"We've been on the other side of it enough this season, so it's nice to pick up points in that manner," Wilson told BBC Scotland.

"There wasn't a lot in the game, so these moments are important when they come along. I'm just glad to get a goal today and help the team to get a point.

"We know over the 90 minutes we can be better and we can give more to the game.

"We've got the [international] break now and we've got a tough game straight afterwards [away to Rangers]. We're going to have to pick up points if we want to push ourselves up the table.

"I think our play has been deserving of a wee bit more, but you don't get anything just for a nice performance.

"Sometimes you have to really dig deep and get the points on the board.

"We're not satisfied where we are. We've got some more to come, so we'll endeavour to put that right."

Livingston snatched a point at the death for the second consecutive week but it was not enough to halt fellow Scottish Premiership newcomers Falkirk rising to third in the table.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say here.

Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Scotland: "A Falkirk fan sent me a message this morning, saying 'good luck for the rest of the season, hope you get beat today.'

"I replied 'I just hope it's a good game of football and VAR doesn't get involved'.

"I look at the penalty, and I think it's really harsh. The referee says its distance. Stevie May can't move it, his arm is not extended, it just hits him. The ref has seen it in real time and doesn't think it's a penalty.

"I really don't think it's a penalty. Maybe my angle is wrong. There's a shout for us, Keelan Adams on Andrew Shinnie. You can see the motion of Keelan's arm. We were told Andrew was nowhere near the ball. What does that have to do with anything?

"I feel like I'm talking about VAR far too much, maybe it's me that needs to shut up.

"I thought we deserved at least a point from the game. The game became a little transitional, but I've got to give my players massive credit. The subs that came on really helped us today. That's what the squad is for.

"I think a point is about fair but it's the least we deserve. Come the end of the season that could be a big point."

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Falkirk welcome back Leon McCann and have added new signing Ryan Edwards to their squad but Ross McIver drops out with an ankle injury to join Lewis Neilson (ankle), Coll Donaldson (abdomen), Tom Lang (foot) and Aidan Nesbitt (foot) on the sidelines.

Livingston have Ryan McGowan back in training but are still without Shane Blaney (hamstring), Adam Montgomery (calf), Connor McLennan (concussion), Cammy Kerr (ankle) and Aidan Denholm (hamstring).

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Livingston manager David Martindale believes Falkirk's form shows how strong the Championship was last season and he feels his own team are also backing up that assertion.

Falkirk will be two points off Celtic in third place in the Premiership if they beat Livingston on Saturday, after winning three of their previous four games.

The Bairns pipped Livi to the Championship title last season and Martindale's side have also proved themselves to be highly competitive in the vast majority of games this season, with the concession of four last-minute winners consigning them to bottom place.

Martindale said: "They've always got goals in them, Falkirk. They're a good attacking team and they've kept that even when they've changed the players within the group.

"For me, in certain games where we've got to be a wee bit more clinical is at the top end of the park.

"Falkirk have probably been that wee bit more clinical at the top end of the park.

"If you wanted to strip every game back, they played Aberdeen for 50 minutes with 10 men. So there's different reasons. But they're up there on merit.

"I was a big advocate of it last year, how strong the top end of the Championship was.

"And I think we've shown that. Because even though we may be sitting at the bottom of the table just now, if you went around our opponents, I don't think they would actually say they would have thought Livingston were bottom of the league based on the performances."

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Livingston defender Shane Blaney faces three months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury - and some "careful" handling after that.

The 26-year-old, who joined Livi from Motherwell in the summer, has missed the past two matches after being forced off in the 4-0 defeat by Hibs.

Manager David Martindale said: "We had the option of surgery or trying to let it heal naturally with rehab.

"We've chosen with Shane to go down the rehab path. The timescales are very similar, so Shane's going to probably be another 12 weeks.

"It's hard, he missed pre-season on the back of coming into us a wee bit injured from Motherwell with his knee, and then he's come in and not been able to find any consistency in terms of training time or game time.

"It's difficult with the intensity and the physicality of the Scottish Premiership. It's so quick, and it's really, really hard when you've not done a proper pre-season, and that's probably where Shane is.

"So we need to look at that as a group, when Shane is available to return to training, whether we delay that to give him the best chance possible of coming back and staying fit.

"It would be great to have him involved this season, of course it would, but I think we've got to play this one a wee bit careful."

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• Falkirk last hosted Livingston in the top flight on the final day of the 2005-06 season, winning 1-0 courtesy of Daniel McBreen's goal.

• Livingston have lost four of their past six Premiership away games against newly-promoted opponents (W2), including both of their last two: 2-0 v Kilmarnock in May 2023 and 1-0 v Dundee in November 2023.

• Falkirk have won three of their past four league games (L1), with no side winning more matches than the Bairns in the Premiership since the October international break (3, level with Hearts). At home, Falkirk are looking to win three successive games in the top flight for the first time since December 2007.

• Livingston have just seven points in 11 league games this season (W1 D4 L6), while a defeat here would make this the poorest start by any side after 12 matches of a Premiership campaign since 2021-22, when Ross County managed just six points in their opening 12.

• Falkirk have had 11 different goalscorers in the league this season (excluding own goals), more than any side. Only Aberdeen (5) have had fewer than Livingston (6).

Livingston manager David Martindale has been booked to appear on BBC Scotland's "Debate Night" politics show on Wednesday evening. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

A 2-2 draw against the lauded Hibs may not immediately sound that important a result, but I reckon this hard-earned draw could turn around our season.

Let's be honest, the Easter Road team had pumped us this season already. They are a good outfit and will dish out similar to bigger teams than Livi.

However, the way we clawed our way back into the game last weekend should be rocket fuel to our stuttering season.

The team, the staff, the manager and yes, the fans, all played a part in this result.

This match was also our regular hard-luck story turned on its head. The late goal this time was scored by us and was oh so sweet. From going behind twice, we played some first-class football and showed brilliant tenacity.

The players efforts' fuelled the fans and that in turn gave those on the pitch extra energy.

There's been a wee bit of negativity recently so this atmosphere was a tonic to everyone.

It has to be said the referee played a part too. He was rotten and that only seemed to galvanise the fans, giving us a cause to get behind, and again that fed on to the pitch.

It may have been a draw but it feels like a 2-2 win to me.

Watch as Sportscene pundit Neil McCann talks through Jeremy Bokila's first Livingston equaliser against Hibs in Saturday's 2-2 draw.

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Watch the highlights of Livingston 2-2 Hibernian by clicking here.

We asked for your views on Livingston's 2-2 draw against Hibs.

Here's what some of you said:

Del: Great to see what we are capable of, especially concentrating and fighting to the end. Build momentum.

Fraser: A well-earned point. We showed real intent and finally got a point for our efforts. You can see we're trying to play more positively in the Premiership this season, even if late goals have cost us.

Hopefully David Martindale sticks with this starting XI for the next few games. They've got quality, and a consistent run together could help them gel and build the understanding we've been missing.

Malcolm: We fought to the end, which was really good to see, and the team had a hunger I haven't seen for ages. I agree with Martindale - it felt like we were playing against the referee as well as Hibs. Bottom line though, I'm happy with the result and hopefully we can use it as a spring board for future games.

Malky: Livi salvaged an earned draw against Hibs, but a lot of supporters are sadly feeling the same with hot and cold displays. Time for a new man at the helm needed.

Livingston scored a stoppage-time penalty to deny Hibernian victory in an absorbing contest and move the Scottish Premiership's bottom side to within two points of Dundee.

Read the match report here.

Have your say on Livingston's performance here.

Image source, SNS

Livingston manager David Martindale: "It was a good game for the neutral, if not the two managers. It felt like we were playing the referee at times, it felt like 'wee club' syndrome again.

"The players are pressing, they're hungry, they want to win games of football. We just need to manage games better."

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Livingston are still without Shane Blaney, Adam Montgomery (calf), Connor McLennan (concussion), Cammy Kerr (ankle), Ryan McGowan (calf) and Aidan Denholm (hamstring).

Hibernian head coach David Gray has a few players nursing "bumps and bruises" after Wednesday's defeat by Rangers but is hopeful they will all be available.

Warren O'Hora (shoulder) is doubtful while Dylan Levitt (appendix), Rudi Molotnikov (ankle), Joe Newell (groin) and Alasana Manneh (hamstring) are still missing.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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David Gray has warned Hibs not to underestimate struggling Livingston as his side look to reclaim third place on Saturday.

Hibs were leapfrogged by Rangers after losing to the Ibrox side in midweek and now face bottom club Livingston, who they have beaten 2-0 away and 4-0 at home this season.

"Those two results are irrelevant. I think this league shows you that anyway, look how tight it is," said head coach Gray.

"Going to Livingston, what challenges that has, the astroturf is something else that we don't play on every single week, so you need to contend with that. It's certainly not an excuse. The players are ready for it.

"They have been there already this season, so it's not completely new. That's a big thing. Davie [Martindale] will have the team ready to go. They always are. It'll be a tough fixture.

"They'll be looking for a reaction from the last time they played them, we're well aware of that.

"We know the challenges it presents but we see it as an opportunity to end the week with three points.

"If we can do that, we move back into third and that's our only focus going into the game."

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David Martindale is hoping Livingston can capitalise on Hibernian's request to play his side within three days of hosting Rangers.

Saturday's rescheduled Scottish Premiership meeting in West Lothian was initially due to take place on Wednesday, 3 December.

But, with Hibs and Livi facing the prospect of a free weekend due to the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals, the Edinburgh club asked if it could be brought forward in order to ease their busy winter schedule.

Martindale, whose side had no game in midweek while Hibs were losing 1-0 at home to Rangers, was only too willing to oblige.

"Hibs came to us and offered us the schedule, so if you look at the fact Hibs were playing Rangers on Wednesday night, it's a bit of a no-brainer if a team comes to us to play within 48 hours of another game when we've had the benefit of having a Saturday to Saturday," the manager said.

Livingston sit bottom of the table without a win in nine outings and must make the most of any small advantage.

"They've got a big squad," Martindale said of Saturday's fourth-top visitors. "They obviously think they're more than capable of picking points up, albeit they've had a big game on Wednesday night, so the thinking behind it for us was it was a good time to try and play them.

"Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday is not a fixture schedule I like. It's not a game I would have been asking to play if we had a game on the Wednesday night and the opponent never had a game on the Saturday, so we need to try and use that to our advantage."

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• Livingston have won just one and lost five of their past seven league meetings with Hibs (D1), with that sole triumph coming in August 2023 (3-2).

• Hibs have lost just one of their past 10 Scottish Premiership games against newly-promoted sides (W6 D3), a 3-2 defeat at Dundee United in October 2024. They have already beaten Livingston this season, winning 4-0 last month.

• Livingston won their opening home game this season, 3-1 vs Falkirk, but have lost all three since 2-1. Livi last lost more consecutive home matches in the same Scottish Premiership season between December 2005 and March 2006 (run of five).

• Hibs have lost two of their past four Scottish Premiership matches (W2), as many as across their previous 28 league outings (W14 D12) – Hibs last lost back-to-back league games in November 2024.

• Hibs forward Junor Hoilett has scored half of his eight Premiership goals against Livingston (4) and has been directly involved in six goals in just three league appearances against Livi (2 goals, 2 assists for Aberdeen, 2 goals for Hibs). The only player to be involved in more against the same opponent since the Canadian debuted in the competition in February 2024 is Kyogo Furuhashi vs St Johnstone (7).