Livingston

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Livingston have signed goalkeeper Jamie Smith from financially troubled Hamilton Academical on a short-term contract until the end of the season.

Manager David Martindale made his move for the 23-year-old with back-up Jack Hamilton currently sidelined with an ankle injury.

Smith will provide back-up for Jerome Prior and is likely to be on the bench on Tuesday as Livingston host St Mirren in a match vital to their hopes of reducing the gap at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership and avoiding relegation.

The Scotland youth international began his career with his local club and, following loan spells with Rossvale, Broomhill, Blackburn United and Annan Athletic, making 35 appearances last season, became a regular starter for his parent club this season.

He has played 25 times during the current campaign, keeping nine clean sheets, but his side sit third bottom of League 1 instead of second top because of a 15-point deduction for breaching league rules.

The Lanarkshire club are fighting against insolvency and have shed several first-team regulars this month following unpaid or delayed wages.

They had already recalled fellow goalkeeper Josh Lane from his loan to League 2 side Stranraer.

Smith becomes Livingston's second signing in two days, with Guinea-Bissau left-back Babacar Fati having joined from Finnish club Seinajoki.

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• Livingston are winless in 19 league games (D6 L13), the longest run by any side in Scotland's top flight since Hamilton went 22 without victory from November 2010 to April 2011.

• St Mirren have lost their past four Scottish Premiership games, last losing more in a row in October 2020 (six). The Buddies have lost their past three without scoring, last losing more in succession without reply in the top flight in April 2015 (five).

• Livingston are the first side to win just one (or fewer) of their first 21 matches of a Scottish top-flight season since Dundee United in 2000-01 (also one win) – who managed to avoid relegation with an 11th-place finish that term, with St Mirren finishing 12th and being relegated.

• Livingston are unbeaten in four home games against St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership (W1 D3), and, after their 1-0 victory in February 2024, could win back-to-back home games over the Buddies for only the second time in the top flight after February 2020.

• St Mirren have only lost one of their past 14 Scottish Premiership games against Livingston (W7 D6), and after their 1-0 win in December, could beat the Lions successively in the competition for the first time since November 2020.

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

A cup run would have been nice, but I think every Livi fan would rather have a league win over St Mirren.

The Scottish Cup defeat to the Buddies last weekend was decided by fine margins - the story of our season so far.

We now need to throw the kitchen sink at trying to stay up, starting with tonight's St Mirren rematch.

Although Robbie Muirhead didn't get the goal his play deserved, I was delighted to see the striker start and he should keep his place.

I was also glad to see local lad Scott Arfield get on the scoresheet. He was creative and brought a lot to our forward play. Can the 37-year-old's legs take two games in a few days?

Like most games this season, we had chances to chalk up a much-needed win but couldn't find a way to do it.

Arfield aside, the new signings were absent from the starting line-up. I really hope this was a ploy to keep them fresh for tonight's big league game.

This one really is huge and another in our growing line of must-win games.

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Guinea-Bissau left-back Babacar Fati has joined Livingston from Finland's SJK Seinajoki on a deal until the summer of 2029.

The West Lothian club say the deal for the 25-year-old represents a six-figure investment and is subject to international clearance and Scottish FA approval.

Fati has been with SJK since 2022, making 85 appearances and scoring six goals.

"The club are heading in a new direction and this is all down to the new ownership at the club and a very progressive board looking to change how we have operated in transfer windows previously," said Livi manager David Martindale.

"We want to and need to look at selling our players opposed to losing them for nothing when their contracts expire. There have been too many players over the years moving on without the club gaining any value from it.

"The January window has so far brought three players on permanent transfers and one on loan, and this is all down to the hard work of the recruitment team and the support of the chairman and the board.

"Babacar brings in real competition in the left-back area and it was definitely needed with the news we got on Adam Montgomery's injury relapse early last week."

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Manager David Martindale insists "we're in a good place" as he predicted "we'll get there together" and urged Livingston fans to "stick with the club" despite sitting bottom of the Scottish Premiership and having exited the Scottish Cup.

Martindale's side were beaten at the fourth-round stage on Saturday following a penalty shoot-out by a St Mirren side who return to West Lothian on Tuesday for an even more important league meeting.

"I can just see what's going on at the club on a daily and weekly basis and honestly, we are in such a good place," he said in a club interview.

"The club's in good hands. This club's going places and, hand on heart, this my 12th year, 13th year here, I don't think I could have said that before.

"So we're in a good place. Just stick with the club, stick with the people and we'll get there together."

St Mirren are third from bottom, eight points clear of Livingston, but Kilmarnock are the Almondvale side's first target, with Neil McCann's side four ahead but having played a game more.

Roland Idowu opened the scoring for the Paisley side after three minutes before veteran midfielder Scott Arfield soon notched his first Livi goal to level before the spot-kick disappointment.

However, Martindale added: "It's given me food for thought because I brought four or five [new signings] in with a view, maybe, looking at Tuesday night.

"But I thought there's not one person that came off that park and say they've had a bad game.

"I thought we defended like a Livingston team and there's been moments in other games where I've not felt that."

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Shane Blaney has departed Livingston on loan for the remainder of the season to rejoin Sligo Rovers.

The centre-back signed for David Martindale from Motherwell last summer and has made eight appearances in all competitions for the West Lothian side.

However, the 26-year-old has not featured since October and returns to Sligo in search of more first-team minutes.

We asked for your views on Livingston's defeat on penalties against St Mirren in the Scottish Cup.

Here's what some of you said:

David: I don't understand why, when we have struggled to score goals all season, we bring on members of the squad who have been struggling versus players we have brought in (Alex Tamm) with incredible scoring statistics. Scott Arfield scored. Clearly identifying why new inputs are needed, it should wake up the rest of the squad.

Craig: Same old script. Decent performance no end result. The problem is keeping a clean sheet. Only one all season back in September. We are looking likely to score in games but keeping them out is the problem. A clean sheet on Tuesday will help as it guarantees a point. However no easy fix. Mahamadou Susoho looked good and has kicked on since his tantrum when substituted. Good to see Robbie Muirhead back too.

Owen: David Martindale is now way out of his depth at Livingston. That's 21 games in a row that we have failed to win. I'm not buying into the whole "the club is in a good place" nonsense being peddled by Martindale. Something needs to change. Teti Yengi should never be anywhere near the team, absolute waste of a jersey for almost two years, but Martindale seems to keep him in or around the squad and his penalty was the nail in the coffin for him for me.

Allan: I'm not happy at a loss but I'll take a cup exit if it means we've learned enough about St Mirren to ensure that we get the three points in the league match on Tuesday.

With second-choice goalkeeper Jack Hamilton out injured, Livingston are considering a move for Hamilton Academical 23-year-old Jamie Smith. (Daily Record), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

St Mirren squeezed past fellow top-flight strugglers Livingston on penalty kicks to earn their first win in six matches and progress to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup.

Have your say on the game here.

Read our match report here.

Scott Arfield has "no hard feelings" over his Falkirk departure and is relishing the "huge challenge" of trying to keep Livingston in the Premiership.

The 37-year-old midfielder returned to first club Falkirk last season and helped them win promotion to the top flight.

But after just four league starts this term, he requested to leave and joined bottom club Livingston.

"I think probably the last three months the enjoyment sort of went out of my game," Arfield said.

"It was only 20 minutes here, 30 minutes there, 10 minutes here. So it's quite hard to do that in training every week, every day, you just want something on a Saturday for you to look forward to and the team are playing brilliant.

"The manager at Falkirk [John McGlynn] just changed the system in terms of he wanted pace in behind which is working to a treat right now.

"So there wasn't any bad feeling about it, I just had to sort of get out of there. Shake hands, we've been brilliant for each other. I was brilliant for Falkirk, Falkirk were excellent for me.

"So absolutely no animosity, no hard feelings whatsoever. It was just as you're coming to the end, I want to still have the moments that I've had in my career luckily, continuously through my career and I still feel as if I've got some moments."

Arfield made his Livi debut off the bench in last weekend's draw with Kilmarnock. David Martindale's side are four points adrift with a game in hand on second-bottom Killie.

Speaking before the Scottish Cup tie with St Mirren on Saturday, Arfield said: "I've always said that as I'm getting older, I want to retire myself rather than just dwindling out.

"And then the challenge that Livingston offered is the exact same as at Falkirk, another massive challenge.

"I wouldn't have come here if I felt I couldn't contribute in some sort of way so that's exactly the reasoning."

Celtic have agreed to sell 20-year-old centre-back Mitchell Robertson, who is currently on loan to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, to Livingston. (Daily Record), external

Livingston manager David Martindale has thanked Celtic for allowing the West Lothian club to terminate Adam Montgomery's loan after the 23-year-old left-back suffered another injury setback. (The Herald), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Watch as Livingston manager David Martindale has a suggestion for which topic he wants to be asked about at the start of his media conference.

Livi had a penalty appeal turned down in Saturday's draw with Kilmarnock, prompting a discussion with head of referees Willie Collum.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Livingston boss David Martindale believes the Scottish Premiership would benefit from full-time referees after receiving another apology for his side missing out on a penalty.

Martindale revealed that Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum had been in touch to discuss the denial of spot kick late in Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Kilmarnock.

Brad Lyons appeared to stick out an elbow to deflect the ball away from goal, but referee Don Robertson took no action and there was no stoppage in play to review the incident.

Collum made a similar call to Martindale in the wake of an unpunished handball from Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez during a 2-1 defeat at Ibrox in November.

"Very, very similar to Ibrox, if I'm honest," said Martindale.

"But I don't think it's a Willie Collum problem. I don't think it's just an official's problem. I think it's a Scottish football problem.

"We need to get our heads together and we need to find solutions very quickly.

"I appreciate Willie phoning, I really do. But it's not really worth anything at the end of the day because I've been through this, what, eight weeks ago?

"I'm now going through it again. And it's really hard to get your head around. I think we've got to do better."

Scottish officials are paid by game on a part-time basis, while Collum said last month there is no handball problem this season

"If you were to go with a full-time team and a part-time team, over the course of a season, the full-time team's going to make better decisions," said Martindale.

"They're going to be fitter, they're going to be stronger, because that's their full-time focus. I think we need to start phasing the double jobs.

"There's a lot of referees that are very intelligent individuals within their own industries. They're in good jobs and I understand it would be hard for that transition into full-time football because you'd probably lose a lot of household turnover.

"But I think we've got to start phasing that in. I know the salaries on offer for referees and there'd be a lot of people who'd bite your hand off for that in a full-time position.

"It's the only way it's going to get better, is by having it full-time."

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

We really needed a win against Killie. The draw just felt like we were in the groundhog day loop of never moving forward.

The build-up to the game was first class. We had big-name signings and our chairman making a rare public appearance.

I felt really optimistic we'd get goals and a win but it ended up a huge anti-climax. The performance was decent, the referee was shocking, and we should have had a penalty. Close but no cigar should be the motto for this season.

As much as we want the new recruits to excel, they maybe need a bit of time. Of course, that's what we don't have to spare so there does need to be an acceleration in getting the new guys in the team and firing on all cylinders.

It's blatantly clear it is us against Killie for relegation. If we can prevent the gap widening in the new few weeks then we have a chance.

We have to want it more than they do, we have to scrap for every point and most importantly take our chances in front of goal.

The chairman believes we can do it. The manager believes and our part as fans is to give the players all the backing and belief we can.

Watch Sportscene pundit Charlie Mulgrew discuss David Martindale's decision to make a substitute early on during their 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Livingston defender Brooklyn Kabangolo was booked for his first foul in the opening minutes but avoided punishment for two subsequent infringements before being replaced.

"He's very lucky," said Mulgrew. "Two out of the three [fouls] are bookings. It's one of the rare occasions in a game where you have to make a sub so early."

Mulgrew, however, also believes Livi should've been awarded a penalty after the ball appeared to strike Brad Lyons' arm.

"I think it's a clear penalty," added the former Scotland defender. "He lifts his arm towards the ball."

Watch highlights as Livingston draw 1-1 against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Livingston's 1-1 Premiership draw against Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Here's what some of you said:

Mike: What happened to Robbie Hunter getting some game time. With both the new signings getting on it must leave doubts in Robbie's mind.

Paul: I think it's fair to say we are going back down. We have a great owner and board. David Martindale is committed to helping the club but we are going back down and we should start planning for that now.

Kyle: As I always say it's either the referees or luck that's stopped us from winning games, I believe that Davie is the man to stick by until the end of the season and we will assess options then but it doesn't help the fact that Livi are 154 days without a win but it should have ended.

Michael: Livi should have been down to 10 men but on the other hand we should have had a penalty. After the non-penalty against Rangers and now this one, the club should ask for the VAR money back; it doesn't work.

Kev: Good game to watch, though ruined by another inept official who will not be held accountable, there needs to be some redress/accountability, clubs, managers, players and fans are suffering due to officials not being of a competent standard.

Del: Didn't play new signings enough. Same players, same tactics, same claims of being unlucky. Madness is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Good players, not being coached well or executing tactics effectively. Something has to change or relegation is inevitable.

Neil McCann began his Kilmarnock reign by with a draw that keeps relegation rivals Livingston four points behind them at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

Read the match report

Have your say on the action

Livingston manager David Martindale: "I'm disappointed with the two points dropped, that's how it feels. There's a lot to like within the performance in terms of control in the game, chance creation. Final third, we've got to be a wee bit cleaner up there.

"We feel it was a penalty [when the ball appeared to hit Brad Lyons' arm]. I'd love to hear why it wasn't. If I'm wrong on the penalty, I'm wrong, I can take that on the chin.

"I felt Don [Robertson, the referee] had a poor game. Big Brooklyn [Kabangolo] gets a yellow card really, really early on in the game and it kind of forced us into making changes. I don't think it's a yellow card.

"Lewis Smith gets a strong tackle on him 23, 25 yards from the opponent's goal and it's not a yellow card but our centre-back brings Brucie [Anderson] down on the touchline, he puts it out for a throw-in 50, 60 yards from goal. The inconsistencies never helped us.

"The goal was fantastic. There was a lot to like in the goal. Disappointed with the goal we lose. We've got to do better with the first contact. We're giving cheap, cheap goals away to the opposition. Not defending our box well enough."

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Livingston chairman Calvin Ford is "not concerned" about the possibility of relegation, despite the side's place at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

David Martindale's side prop up the Scottish Premiership, having played 20 of their 38 fixtures, four points below Saturday's visitors Kilmarnock, who have played 21.

Livi have recruited midfielder Scott Arfield and forward Alex Tamm so far this January transfer window and Ford says, "we're going to keep looking".

"We're certainly looking at a couple more before the end of the window," Ford told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.

"How concerned am I? I'm not concerned. It's halfway through the season. We brought in a couple of players that I'm really excited about.

"If you look back at many of the games that we were in, boy, how many did we lose in the last five or 10 minutes? It's unbelievable the amount of points that I feel that we could've had.

"I have complete belief in this squad, in the players, in the staff. I feel great right now."

The American would not give specific figures when asked about how much he was willing to invest in the January transfer window but said: "I knew the passion and the drive and the desire when I got into it.

"We were the last team up. We're battling for our lives and it starts today. It's 2026, we're turning over a new leaf right now and I'm excited. My passion, my optimism, my belief in Davie in this team has never wavered.

"Has anything surprised me? No. I knew that it was going to be a challenge. I knew what I was getting in to when I did it and I still love it, I'm still thrilled about it."

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Livingston could hand debuts to veteran midfielder Scott Arfield and Estonia striker Alex Tamm.

Cammy Kerr is also pushing for a belated debut after recovering from injury, but Aidan Denholm, Shane Blaney (both hamstring) and Adam Montgomery (calf) remain out. Macaulay Tait returns after being unable to face parent club Hearts last weekend.

Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson is suspended while Tom Lowery and Marley Watkins are doubts.

Max Stryjek (heart), Kyle Magennis (knee), Jamie Brandon (ankle/groin), Djenairo Daniels (knee) and Matty Kennedy (hip) remain out.