Livingston

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."

Malky: "Gutted. I thought the Lions were going to get a well deserved victory but the ref had other ideas. Definitely an improvement under big Marv."

Malcolm: "A good result that probably accurately reflects the game. The forward line does seem to be coming together now, which is brilliant.

"Seems that we have a huge squad now. Maybe it'd help training and selection of we shed some weight. If the goals start coming we'll at least go down fighting or, at a push, retain our Premiership status.

"It's a shame though that the mainstream media will now spend a week bubbling about the penalty claim and not mention the Livi goals (the first of which was incredible, and the second a textbook finish). If Rangers can't beat a 10-man Livingston in over 100 minutes, then credit to Livingston. Well done!"

Matt: "There's little point in asking where that performance has been all season - Marvin has got more of a tune out of that squad in three games than the previous manager did in the last 25.

"Full credit to Bartley for the impact he's made - he's not only saying the right things to the camera, but clearly implementing them behind the scenes as well.

"That performance yesterday was the most entertainment we've had at a Livingston game in a very long time - if that continues til the end of the season there's a danger Marvin will get the fans believing they can somehow stay up as much as he does!"

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Jerome Prior - Livingston: A superb performance from the Livingston keeper, who pulled off a variety of fantastic stops to repel Rangers time and again. No shame in ultimately conceding two given the deluge he was under.

Stephen O'Donnell - Motherwell: Has been a true, versatile hero at the back for the Steelmen this season. Looks like a player rejuvenated every weekend in this brilliant Motherwell side.

Brooklyn Kabongolo - Livingston: What. A. Strike! Finished like one of the world's best strikers to put Livingston ahead against Rangers. Also put in a big shift at the back.

Harry Milne - Hearts: Not one of the most celebrated at the time, but has to be one of the best recent signings Hearts have made. A model of consistency. The former Partick Thistle player put in another energised, dependable performance for his manager.

Emmanuel Longelo - Motherwell: Thought he looked offside for his goal, but who am I to argue with the VAR lines. Has been an awesome presence down the left for the Steelmen all season.

Felix Passlack - Hibernian: The former Borussia Dortmund player arrived at Easter Road with a fine CV and underlined those credentials with a fine showing at Celtic Park. Took his opportunity superbly with an unstoppable header to fire Hibs in front.

Elijah Just - Motherwell: Every weekend Just underlines his credentials as a player of the year contender. Opened the scoring in the demolition of St Mirren with another brilliant goal.

Ethan Hamilton - Dundee: For his thunderbolt winner against Aberdeen. Great follow-up to his sublime strike against Celtic in the cup, but that was ultimately in vain while this strike at Pittodrie bagged what could turn out to be a vital three points. A statement season for the midfielder.

Callum Slattery - Motherwell: Difficult to look past the fact he went down far too easily as Richard King was sent off. However, the actual football performance from Slattery was excellent. Three assists for the midfielder as the Steelmen further underlined their title credentials by tearing St Mirren apart.

Nicky Cadden - Hibernian: Hibs are simply a far better side with Nicky Cadden in it. His delivery from the left offers so much to Hibs in attack, as shown by the assist for Passlack's diving header against Celtic.

Kevin Nisbet - Aberdeen: The light in the north for the slightly dismal Dons at the moment. His first was freakish - helped massively by Dundee keeper Jon McCracken - but his second was an absolute firecracker of a free kick. On another day might easily have had a hat-trick.

Watch highlights from Sunday's Premiership match between Livingston and Rangers.

Match Report: Rangers scramble draw at 10-man Livingston

Available to UK users only.

Mikey Moore's 88th-minute header rescued a draw for Rangers against Scottish Premiership strugglers Livingston, who blew a two-goal lead after Cristian Montano's red card.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Livingston boss Marvin Bartley: "A real rollercoaster of emotions, but you have to remember who we're playing against. If you'd offered me 2-2 befroe the game I would have taken it.

"2-0 up we looked pretty comfortable. The turning point was the sending off.

"The players gave me everything today and that's all I can ask for.

"It's going to take a lot for us to get out of this situation but I saw a lot of things I liked today.

"For me the referee has got [the red card] right. No complaints at all.

"The players stood up down to 10 and that's all I can ask.

"When the referee said play on, I was delighted. I've not seen the tackle back to see if it's outside the box.

"Talking of decisions, I thought Danny Wilson was fouled in the build-up to one of their goals.

"We're heading in the right direction in terms of performance but we need to start picking up points quickly."

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Livingston may include new signings Barrie McKay and Joel Nouble. Babacar Fati (thigh) could return, but Samson Lawal, Josh Zimmerman, Scott Arfield (hamstring), Connor McLennan (ankle) and Aidan Denholm (hamstring) are all likely to remain sidelined.

Rangers boss Danny Rohl has a couple of fresh injury concerns, although he refused to disclose names. Max Aarons has missed the last two matches and Connor Barron (knee) and Derek Cornelius (muscle) are still out.

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Livingston defender Cammy Kerr insists the gap at the bottom of the Premiership can be classed and his side can still claw their way out of relegation trouble.

With 11 games to play in the league, Livi have just 12 points to their name and trail eleventh-placed Kilmarnock by eight points.

Performances since Marvin Bartley took over as manager have brought some encouragement, though the team lost a last-gasp goal at Celtic and had to fight back from two games down to take a point at Dundee.

Kerr says praised Bartley for bringing a freshness that can lift the side and said that it could just take "two or three games" to completely change the team's fortunes.

He told the Scottish Football Podcast: "In terms of the training, Marvin coming in and having his own ideas on how he wants to do things has been great. The training's been really refreshing and he's got a way that he wants to go and he's sticking with it.

"I suppose it's easy for me to say 'Yeah, we've got to believe', but if you're a professional and you don't believe that you're going to stay up with a points difference of eight, then you shouldn't be playing.

"That's easily brought back in two or three games. You've still got the split to play everyone in and around you, and everyone knows how quickly football changes."

Kerr said there has to be focus and the right attitude if Livi are to achieve a great escape but backed his side to give everything they have in the remaining games.

"You've got to have a really good mentality," he said. "It's a different mentality from being at the other end of the league. You've got to have a real fight and desire and never give up. You've got to go in every day, make sure that you're working to the best of your ability, and come a Saturday or Sunday, even against the bigger teams, you've got to believe that you're going to get something out it.

That's got to be the way everyone in the dressing room thinks. We need everyone fighting in the same direction and I believe we've got that.

We're under no illusions about how tough it is going to be but we know that we're still in a fight and we need to keep going to the end.

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Livingston boss Marvin Bartley has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to welcome Rangers on Sunday.

Here are the main points:

• Bartley stresses new signings Joel Nouble and Barrie McKay will have "a huge part to play" between now and the end of the season, adding both "have showed up well in training".

• The pair played 45 minutes in a bounce game and the Livi boss feels they're "heading in the right direction".

• Livi sit bottom of the Scottish Premiership and Bartley stresses "it's all about getting to the split as close as you possibly can be" to the teams above.

• Bartley feels "the pressure is on other teams" who are being dragged into a relegation battle

• The manager suggests "draws will do because if we draw every game between now and the end of the season and every else loses we stay up."

• Bartley jokes "I felt a lot better at full-time than I did at half-time" of the Kilmarnock v Celtic game.

• While Livi are in a difficult position at the bottom of the table, Bartley stresses "I wouldn't have taken this job on if I didn't have confidence in the players."

• Livi came from 2-0 down to snatch a 2-2 draw against Dundee and Bartley says "there's a fine line between confidence and complacency" adding "we have to make sure those mistakes don't happen again".

• "It's a very different Rangers team" to the side they faced earlier in the season and Bartley insists "we won't take anything from that game".

• But the manager wants his side to offer "more of a threat" going forward in games.

• Bartley admits "I'm not enjoying it at all" since taking over from David Martindale but adds "I'll enjoy it if we stay up".

• The Livi boss admits that lawyers from the SFA have spoken to Jeremy Bokila this week regarding an allegation the he suffered racial abuse in last month's match against Aberdeen.

• Bartley adds "as a football club and as a manager, we're there with him every step of the way".

• Team news: Aidan Denholm is getting closer to a return but is not yet ready to be in the squad, Babacar Fati is getting closer while Josh Zimmerman is further behind.