Livingston

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

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Jerome Prior - Livingston

Five saves at Easter Road are unlikely to save Livingston's season, but they brought a clean sheet and a point nonetheless.

Warren O'Hora - Hibernian

Another solid showing from the centre-back and a clean sheet.

Kieran Tierney - Celtic

His character and class continues to help keep Celtic fighting for a league and cup double.

Michael Schjonning-Larsen - Kilmarnock

A huge goal against Hearts from the Estonian international to earn his Kilmarnock side a massive three points in their fight against relegation, and throw a massive spanner in the works of the Hearts title tilt.

Luca Stephenson - Dundee United

A brilliant, brave back-post header looked like it would give Dundee United all three points in the derby, but it wasn't to be.

Alex Gogic - St Mirren

If any player ever deserved the classic football hard man head bandage it's Alex Gogic. But the Cyprus international goes the extra mile.

With blood erupting from his head after a clash with a team-mate, there was no bandage required. Instead it took staples to stem the flow, topped off by a massive dollop of Vaseline. What a warrior.

He must be the most old-school player in the Premiership, and we love him for it. Great defensively against Rangers.

Nico Raskin - Rangers

Full of energy in the hurly-burly of midfield in poor conditions in Paisley. He delivered the assist for the vital goal.

Tuur Rommens - Rangers

Got high up the field to decisive effect as he sealed a big three points for Rangers.

Yang Hyun-Jun - Celtic

Two goals in a huge game to sink Motherwell. That is now six goals since Christmas for the South Korean international.

Barney Stewart - Falkirk

The young striker is brimming with belief after graduating to Premiership football. 16 goals now in all competitions for the 21-year-old - albeit half of them while on loan at Championship Dunfermline. Four goals in his last 3 games, huge potential.

Findlay Curtis - Kilmarnock

Has brought a bit of X-factor to the Kilmarnock attack. Looks like a player who can ignite things for the Rugby Park side as they fight to get out of the play-off spot.

Livingston make it four draws in a row as the Scottish Premiership's bottom club frustrate Hibernian in a goalless stalemate at Easter Road.

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Livingston manager Marvin Bartley: "The boys gave me everything. That's all I expect, to get 100%, and I'm definitely getting that from the starters and all of the subs.

"The morale within the group is really good. We switched from a back five to a back four and they took it in their stride.

"As long as every player and every staff member continues to give everything, we have a fantastic chance to get out of this situation."

On the late penalty award for Hibs that was overturned, he adds: "I was rubbing my eyes because I think the referee was the only person to see that as a penalty kick. I couldn't believe it, but thankfully we have VAR in this division."

Livingston fans, is the Great Escape on?

A gritty defensive display earned Marvin Bartley's side a fourth successive draw away to Hibs.

Read the match report.

Let us know your thoughts on the action.

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Hibernian have Chris Cadden back in contention while Jordan Obita and Grant Hanley could also be available after hamstring issues, but Rudi Molitnikov joins Josh Mulligan (both ankle) on the sidelines.

Livingston welcome Cristian Montano back from suspension, while some of their injuries have cleared up so Aidan Denholm (hamstring) and Connor McLennan (ankle) are set to be the only absentees.

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Marvin Bartley is excited to take his Livingston side to a "special place" on Saturday as they travel to Hibernian.

Bartley, 39, moved from Leyton Orient to Hibs in 2015 and has stayed in Scotland ever since, moving from playing into coaching.

He succeeded David Martindale as Livi boss last month and takes charge of a team against Hibs for the first time this weekend.

"I had a great four years at the football club," Bartley said. "The reason I am in Scotland is because of Hibs.

"It's a place that I really do look forward to going back to, whether it be as a player and obviously now as a manager, but I've been back as a fan as well. It's one of those that holds a real special place in my heart."

Bartley lost his first match in charge, but has since overseen three consecutive draws.

"Hibs are chasing fourth place, they've got a lot of good players and a really, really good manager also," Bartley said of David Gray's side.

"Our players will be prepared, they're more than good enough to go out there and execute the game plan but there's a thin line between confidence and complacency.

"If we think we're just going to go out there and things are going to happen for us, we'll find ourselves in a bit of bother. We can't afford for that to happen at this stage of the season."

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• Ante Suto has scored in his two Scottish Premiership home games for Hibernian, each as a substitute. The last player to score in their first three home appearances in the competition was Mika Biereth for Motherwell in November 2023, while the last Croat to do so was Antonio Colak for Rangers in August 2022.

• Although they remain winless in 27 league games (D10 L17), Livingston have drawn their past three - they last went four consecutive Scottish Premiership matches without defeat in January 2023 (five).

• Hibs are unbeaten in 20 home league games against non-Old Firm clubs, winning 15 and drawing five since a 2-1 defeat to St Mirren in November 2024. This is the longest unbeaten home run in the Scottish top flight by a side other than Celtic/Rangers against non-Old Firm opposition since Kilmarnock went 21 without defeat from August 2005 to December 2006.

• Livingston have only won one of their past eight Premiership meetings with Hibs (D2 L5), a 3-2 away victory in August 2023.

• Hibs are unbeaten in 19 top-flight home matches against newly-promoted opponents (W9 D10) since a 1-0 defeat to Ross County in December 2012 under Pat Fenlon.

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

Another point and another unbeaten game. Those are the main positives from the weekend draw with St Mirren.

However, a feeling of 'It's just not enough' hangs heavy.

We fought well to get back in the game against a determined visiting side and there was lots of good individual performances but we were just short. Again.

After finally drawing level we did push for a winner, but there was still a bit of caution in our play. It felt like the manager still had the handbrake on when the kitchen sink should have been thrown at St Mirren.

Big Brooklyn Kabongolo had already scored a cracking header and at 6ft 5in he should have been drafted in as an auxiliary striker. We have to win these games, the time for playing it safe to avoid defeat is over.

We got lucky with Falkirk hammering Kilmarnock and still have to play them of course, but that gap between us and Killie needs to be clawed back.

We need to see a win for the fans' morale too. Even in the dire relegation season a couple of years ago we still managed five victories.

To have only one win at this stage does sap the optimism and we all need to be positive but the longer this awful run goes on the bigger the burden.

Watch Sportscene pundit Richard Foster suggest Livingston are "too far gone" to escape bottom spot in the Scottish Premiership after Saturday's draw with St Mirren.

Watch all the action as Livingston salvage a point against St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

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

Here's what some of you said:

Malcolm: A crowd full of expectancy arrived, but, even though by 5pm we had extended our unbeaten run to three weeks, the result was disappointing and the mood of the crowd was flat.

Where was the hunger from last week? Nobody had a particularly bad game but it seemed like they weren't really up for it.

There's a definite change with the new manager which is great, but I'd like the team to focus on attack. Too often we seemed to be going the wrong direction on the park. Frightened of attacking, in case we get caught with a counter maybe? It's time to fight, push forward and take chances. At this point we have nothing to lose.

John: Sorry to say but Livi were so poor. Where was last week's fight, determination, challenge for first and second ball? I love my team but that doesn't mean I have to hide my feelings on what I see.

Youssef: Need more goals. It's so important, we need to win and get some points.

Defender Brooklyn Kabongolo scored for the second game running as Scottish Premiership basement side Livingston rescued a point against stumbling St Mirren.

Read the match report here.

Give us your thoughts on the game here.

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Livingston manager Marvin Bartley: "I let the players know at half-time our first half performance was too far off of what I expect.

"But ultimately when you're not at your best it's important not to lose games of football and today we managed to get a point.

"My biggest thing with the players is mistakes are always going to happen, it's about your reaction and we just felt a little bit nervous out there today.

"It's seven points at this moment in time, nine games to go. It's something that can be turned around really, really quickly. We'll keep chipping away until we get to the split and then we'll see where we're at, but this team's more than good enough to do so.

"You know we will not give up. We will get out of this situation we're currently in."

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Livingston have Scott Arfield back in contention after a hamstring issue but Cristian Montano is suspended and Samson Lawal, Josh Zimmerman, Connor McLennan (ankle) and Aidan Denholm (hamstring) are all likely to remain sidelined.

St Mirren have doubts over Declan John (illness) and Colin McMenamin (groin). Jonah Ayunga (calf) returns to training next week while Malik Dijksteel (groin) is out long term.

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Livingston manager Marvin Bartley is wary of a backlash from "wounded animal" St Mirren in West Lothian on Saturday.

The Buddies are two places above bottom side Livi in the Premiership table but have lost three games in a row, including a 5-0 hammering at home to Motherwell last weekend.

Livingston have been improving under Bartley - they lost to a last-gasp goal at Celtic then drew 2-2 with Dundee and Rangers - as they try to fight their way off the bottom.

Lose at Livi on Saturday and Stephen Robinson's side will be just seven points off the bottom with a game in hand.

"St Mirren are a real, real tough team and I was surprised [by the heavy defeat to Motherwell]," boss Bartley said.

"But also Motherwell are probably the best footballing team in the league and if they get on top in a game and score at the times they did, then St Mirren go down to 10 men, it makes it more difficult.

"But they'll be like a wounded animal coming here, and my players know that. We came in on the Monday and I said, what's happened in the Rangers game is done with.

"Now we have to look forward to the St Mirren game because if we don't perform to those same sort of levels, we could be on the end of one of those scorelines that St Mirren got against Motherwell, because that can happen in this league."

Livi midfielder Emmanuel Danso admits Saturday's match feels like "one of the biggest games" in his team's survival quest.

"People always try to downplay the team at the bottom and they feel like maybe they don't have the quality," said Danso.

"But me seeing the performance of the team and also the group as well, I feel like we deserve better. But the only option is for us, the players, to get ourselves out of it.

"We are fully confident that we're going to get ourselves out of the situation."

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• Livingston have 13 points in 28 league games this season, the fewest by any side at this stage of a Scottish top-flight campaign since Livingston themselves in 2005-06 (12 in 28).

• St Mirren are winless in 10 away league outings (D2 L8), but haven't gone longer without a win on the road in the top flight since a run of 20 from November 2009 to October 2010.

• No side has lost more points from winning positions in the Scottish Premiership this season than Livingston (20, level with Dundee United). Conversely, St Mirren have recovered the fewest points (two) from losing positions of any side.

• Livingston have lost none of their past five Scottish Premiership home games against St Mirren (W1 D4) since a 1-0 defeat in October 2021.

• St Mirren have only lost one of their past 15 Premiership meetings with Livingston (W7 D7), going down 1-0 in February 2024.

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Livingston boss Marvin Bartley says they have decided not to appeal against the red card showing to defender Cristiano Montano that was issued during the 2-2 draw with Rangers on Sunday.

Livingston were two goals up when Montano was issued a red card by referee Ryan Lee for a late challenge Rangers winger Djeidi Gassama when he was straight in on goal.

Bartley says he was really happy with the performance of his players but there were certain areas they must improve on to try and maintain their place in the Premiership.

"I think it's a simple one," he said. "He's the last man, denying obviously a goal scoring opportunity.

"We understand it's a red card, there's no point appealing that. He'll serve a suspension on Saturday.

"We defended our box extremely well. I thought they put a lot of balls into the box, but one of the things I've been massive on is controlling where that ball goes. And the way that we've worked that, the players have managed to take that on board.

"And I think you saw on Sunday, they defended a lot of those balls into kind of dangerous areas because they could anticipate where it was going. It's no longer kind of guesswork for them.

"Things we could have done better, at times we could have turned the ball over and been a little bit braver. I was very, very happy with the two goals that we did manage to get and the way that they did come. But I thought at certain other times, yeah, we could have been brave on the counter-attack.

"But again, listen, my players gave me absolutely everything. I always say exactly the same thing, but that's probably one of the things that we could have improved on. Although they did do it really, really well in the game."

With Livingston currently eight points adrift at the bottom Bartley says only a similar performance and application from the players from now until the end of the season will be good enough to avoid the drop.

"We have to do it again on Saturday and in every game. I expect it in every game. It's not one of those things that you play Celtic or Rangers and all of a sudden you're really up for it.

"And you're willing to defend and you're willing to attack and work hard. That has to be what we do every single game. If you don't do that, you won't play in a limited team under me."

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

I feared a heavy defeat in the build-up to the Rangers game.

In the past we have competed combatively and bravely against both Old Firm sides with some landmark victories but this season's struggles have put those heady days in the memory banks.

I really didn't get expect to get anything from those other than more in the goals against column.

It was a bit of shock when Livi's first goal went it. I couldn't believe it and was astounded when the second goal was scored too.

At 2-0 up you could tell a storm was coming as Rangers geared up for waves of attacks throwing on all of their forwards.

Cristian Montano has been one of the brighter performers for us this season but his sending off was the turning point.

It was such a nervy but exciting atmosphere in the stadium, the best all season probably, as Rangers huffed and puffed to break us down but got nowhere.

A team with Rangers' quality and players that cost £8m were likely to get something from the game and credit to their manager, he really went for it.

Obviously, it was disappointing to only come away with just one point but the positives shone through.

We defended brilliantly, putting bodies on the line and the effort levels were huge.

Well done to Marvin Bartley for getting that performance out of the team. It's a compliment to say it was one straight from the David Martindale handbook of Livi performances but with new parts added in too.

It's hard to escape the depressing league status and how Killie look like they've turned a corner but this type of performance gives hope to the fans and confidence to the players.

From trundling down to the stadium fearing the worst, I can't wait for the next game.

We need to see these levels and efforts from all the players, if we can do that then that chance Big Marv says we have might not just be a rallying cry.

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Joel Nouble insists Livingston still have a chance to avoid relegation - believing Sunday's 2-2 draw against Rangers is proof they can still get the points they need.

Goals from Brooklyn Kabongo and Lewis Smith had put the hosts 2-0 at Almondvale before Cristian Montano was sent off and Rangers fought back, with Emmanuel Fernandez and Mikey Moore scoring the goals that meant both teams had to settle for a point.

The result leaves the Lions eight points behind eleventh-placed Kilmarnock with 10 games left to play.

Nouble returned to the club for a second spell earlier this month after two years in China, tasked with helping Livingston claw their way off the bottom of the table.

After making his second debut as a substitute on Sunday, he says there are reasons to be optimistic the team can turn things around in limited time.

"Obviously watching from the bench I thought the boys did really well," he said. "To get a 2-0 lead against Rangers is a tough ask.

"It is an opportunity missed, but we've got to take the positives from it and look forward to the next game because the next game's massive.

"The way the staff, the gaffer, and all the boys since I have come in, everyone's still got a lot of belief that it's not impossible.

"There's still 10 games left now so that's 30 points and an eight-point gap now.

"So everyone's still got a lot of belief in confidence that we can do it.

"And I feel like from the last few performances, the boys have shown, we've got a half-chance.

"I haven't seen, obviously, all the games this season, but the way the boys played, I was like, 'the table must be lying' because I felt like they were so good.

"But I was proud of them because they defended very well and when we had the opportunity, we took it.

"And the performance until the red card, I feel like they were outstanding."