Livingston

Livingston boss David Martindale is backing Hearts to win this season's Premiership title and end Celtic and Rangers' 40-year grip on the trophy.

The Tynecastle club, led by Derek McInnes, are four points above Rangers and six ahead of Celtic at the top with 15 games remaining.

And Martindale suggested McInnes can take his Hearts team, buoyed by investment from Brighton owner Tony Bloom, all the way to the trophy.

"Hearts, I think they're the team," the Livingston boss said.

"I think Hearts have showed over the course of the season real consistency. I look at their squad. I look at Del [McInnes] and I want it to be Hearts. I want it for Scottish football, I want it for them.

"We all moan about Rangers and Celtic winning the league every year – is this [Hearts being top] not brilliant?

"Everybody's saying 'Oh, the Old Firm aren't playing well', but Hearts have been doing magnificent.

"I know a lot of the Hearts players, I know a lot of the Hearts staff. I think it's a fantastic football club that have now got a real good structure upstairs and downstairs. I think they've got a real, real chance.

"Take my Livingston hat off and the fact I grew up a Rangers fan. I love Scottish football, and for Scottish football, I think it would be brilliant if Hearts can go and win this league.

"I thought it was magnificent when Leicester did it in the English Premiership, and I think Hearts have got more than enough to do that. I think they've shown that against the Old Firm."

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Livingston have received a "six-figure loan fee" after striker Tete Yengi joined Japanese side FC Machida Zelvia for the remainder of the season.

The deal includes an option to buy for the J1 League side in the summer.

Yengi, 25, joined David Martindale's side in January 2024 from Ipswich Town and made 83 appearances for the West Lothian club, scoring 18 goals.

"This move is fantastic value for the club and a great move for Tete as an individual too," manager Martindale said.

"FC Machida Zelvia have a paid a six-figure loan fee and have a further six-figure transfer fee option which they can exercise in the summer if they wish to make the move permanent.

"I am really excited to watch Tete's growth in another league. I feel the player that walked in our building two years ago has now become a much better footballer and an even better person and we have been a great fit for one another.

"He leaves the club on a temporary loan with all of our best wishes.

"This is a fantastic piece of business for the club and it's important that we try to balance the books as best we can.

"As a club we need to progressing towards sustainability which has proved very hard the last few years but player trading will become a huge part of our business model moving forward."

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

Make no mistake, the 6-2 defeat at Aberdeen is an embarrassment. The performance was the worst of the season and a massive reaction is needed to put it right.

Where to start here? There was so much wrong with this game for Livingston. The worst part is probably throwing away a 2-1 lead. We really shouldn't have been in front as Aberdeen battered us for the first part of the second half.

They switched off and we got a couple of goals. Then seven minutes of additional time appeared and our players must have had their heads in the dressing room as we leaked two goals to go in at half-time behind.

Incredible, but Aberdeen deserved their lead and worse was to come with a total collapse in the second half. We were rightly hammered and it's almost impossible to pull a positive out of this one. No player came anywhere near their usual standard.

The new signings have only had a few weeks to get fit and fit in with new team-mates, but the ones that came on yesterday were miles off it.

It's harsh, I know, but this is real disappointment for me as I was so hopeful they would come in to turn the season around, but they have hardly played and when they came on, they offered nothing.

I saw one fellow Livi fan describe Joshua Zimmerman as a speedboat without a driver - that sums him up. A fast, headless chicken. The other guys coming on had little or no impact.

The manager should not be getting sent off either, but at least he cares and shows his passion which, on this performance, was missing from the players.

This team are sleepwalking into the Championship. So, what next?

I think we're all a bit fed up as Livi fans saying the next one is must-win and then not winning. There is another chance to get three much-needed points against high-flying Motherwell.

They are miles better than us this season and we are on a long run of not winning, so the odds of even a goal, never mind a victory, are very long.

Watch Sportscene pundit Steven Naismith discuss manager David Martindale's need to start getting results at Livingston.

Watch the best of the action as Aberdeen thrash bottom club Livingston 6-2 in the Scottish Premiership. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views on Livingston's 6-2 defeat against Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Malky: I can just hear it now, we were cut open 6-2 but the plus side is we scored two goals, that's something to take forward to next season.

Robert: Sorry but I'm thinking David Martindale's time is up, it's time for change.

Norrie: Time for Martindale to go. He's lost the confidence of the supporters. Every week he hides behind a VAR decision or something else happening on the pitch. Martindale has to look at his own conduct and tactical decisions, sent off on Saturday and booked against St Mirren in the Scottish Cup when he ran into the dugout to hide behind his players. Also all the players Livingston have signed in January, why have none of them started? I'm sorry David you've put a lot into the club but you're past your sell by date.

Aberdeen battered basement dwellers Livingston to end their run of six Scottish Premiership games without a win in a topsy-turvy game at Pittodrie that ended with both sides down to 10 men.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

Livingston manager David Martindale: "The full game was chaotic. It was just unorganised chaos at times. Defending was very, very poor, and I need to take accountability for that.

"I just thought the game was stop-start. VAR had a big part in the game today. I came out the beneficiary of that on a couple of occasions, so I'm not sitting here moaning about VAR.

"That results on me, right? That's on me, first and foremost. I'm not trying to sugarcoat it or trying to find a way out. But I felt the game was just really chaotic.

"I think it came from the refereeing. From the first minute to the last minute. It's the reason I found myself on the red card. And I've got to take responsibility for that. But it was difficult at that moment, at that time.

"We're 3-2 down. Babacar [Fati]'s breaking. There's a foul on him. There's a second foul. It's right beside me. And the referee doesn't give the foul.

"The referee never lost control because I don't think he had control. But it's not the reason I got sent off. My actions are the reason I got sent off."

"Then there's a big incident at 3-2, I'm sure, with Bokila and an Aberdeen player [Milne]. I don't really know too much about that at this point, but I've got a 37-year-old striker in there crying, so I'll need to go and try and get to the bottom of that one.

"And then it was real chaos after that. 4-2, we're still trying to win the game. 5-2, we're still trying to win the game. It was just so open, so chaotic. No structure.

"And do you know what? I think that comes from me getting sent off. I think that comes from me, and I've got to take accountability for that."

"My actions on the side, probably my frustrations, my emotions getting the better of me, I think that comes from refereeing decisions. But I know that's not an excuse.

"My actions shouldn't be a reflection on the club. The scoreline is unacceptable. It's unacceptable. We should not be losing six goals. And the buck stops with me. We should not be losing six goals. End of."

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Rumours of Tete Yengi's Livingston exit have been confirmed by manager David Martindale, who implied that the striker will move to Japan.

Yengi's brother Kusini, who arrived at Aberdeen last summer, has also been linked with a move to the J-League after a disappointing spell at Pittodrie.

"It's been ongoing for the last week," Martindale said ahead of Livingston's game with Aberdeen. "We expect Tete Yengi to go on loan until the end of the season. Looking like it's going to be the J-League."

Yengi has 18 goals in 83 games for Livingston, with two in 22 this season.

"I wish him a lot of success, he's been a big player for us," Martindale added. "The club are going to benefit from a six-figure loan fee. The paperwork is still be signed, it's not all done - but it's 99% done."

Livingston forward Tete Yengi, 25, is to take up the loan contract that was offered to his brother by Japanese club Machida Zelda, with Aberdeen 27-year-old Kusini having opted to join rivals Cerezo Osaka instead. (Daily Record), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Toyosi Olusanya goes into the Aberdeen squad after joining on loan from Houston Dynamo while Jesper Karlsson has departed. Emmanuel Gyamfi is a doubt and goalkeeper Nick Suman faces a few months out with an ankle injury but Mats Knoester has recovered from illness. Defenders Gavin Molloy and Kristers Tobers are still out with knee injuries.

Livingston could hand new left-back Babacar Fati a debut if the paperwork is completed in time. Aidan Denholm remains out with a hamstring problem while Shane Blaney has rejoined Sligo Rovers on loan and the injured Adam Montgomery's loan move from Celtic has been terminated.

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Livingston manager David Martindale admits he faces some difficult decisions in trying to integrate his new signings.

Martindale hopes to hand Babacar Fati a debut at Aberdeen on Saturday after paperwork issues prevented the left-back from playing in the midweek draw against St Mirren.

The 25-year-old has moved from Finnish side SJK Seinajoki for an undisclosed fee but match fitness could be an issue for the Guinea-Bissau international.

Martindale has been busy in the transfer window and Scott Arfield has already made his first start and scored his first goal.

But the likes of Josh Zimmerman, Alex Tamm and Emmanuel Danso have had to settle for substitute appearances so far after arriving from further afield.

On Fati's chances of featuring at Pittodrie, Martindale said in a club video: "This is his pre-season and you're throwing lads in. It's a big ask, it's difficult.

"But that's what happens in January windows: you're either bringing players in that haven't had a lot of game time and trying to bring them up to speed or you're bringing in players from markets where their leagues are finished.

"So it's up to us to get him up to speed as quickly as possible. I'm pretty comfortable he's a naturally fit boy.

"Josh Zimmernan came on on Tuesday, he's naturally fit. Some boys are athletically okay to do that.

"Alex Tamm needs minutes but how do you get those minutes when you're bottom of the league, chasing games and trying to pick points up? It's difficult."

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• No side has dropped more points from winning positions in the Scottish Premiership this season than Livingston (15, level with Dundee United), who have drawn their past two league matches 1-1 despite going 1-0 ahead each time.

• Livingston are winless in 28 away matches in the Premiership (D7 L21) since a 3-2 victory at Hibernian in August 2023.

• Aberdeen have lost their past four league games, the longest ongoing losing run in this season's top flight. All four have been without scoring, while the Dons last lost five in a row without netting in November 2003.

• Livingston are winless in seven league matches against Aberdeen, alternating between defeat (4 times) and drawing (three) since a 2-1 victory in November 2022.

• Aberdeen have won just two of their past 11 league games against newly-promoted opposition (D4 L5), although one of those was away to Livingston in November (1-0).

Stuart Barrie
Fan writer

The draw against St Mirren felt like a defeat.

It was a total kick in the teeth to lose another last-minute goal after playing so well in the second half, and leading for most of it.

I really thought we'd done enough to win the game. Our forward play was really good and the recalled Robbie Muirhead was again our main threat.

However, it was the curse of this season, the last-minute goal against that left the fans and players dejected at full time.

We can moan about VAR not finding a foul all we like but we could have defended that corner much better.

Some fans and pundits have bemoaned putting on a defender and taking off an attacker. That's all easy to say with hindsight but it was the right call with St Mirren launching balls into our box.

Our defenders played well all game but in the final stages they dropped deeper and deeper, inviting St Mirren on to us. We see this all the time and with our confidence so low its almost understandable to do this.

We need to be better at the end of games. I am sure the players know that but maybe it's a psychological thing now that they get nervous knowing how many points have been lost late on.

This was a must-win game and we only got a point so what now?

All we can do its make sure we pick up points and that starts at Aberdeen this weekend. They have been somewhat fragile too so we have a chance.

We will have to find a mental fortitude that sees games out and finds those points we deserve and so sorely need.

We asked for your thoughts after Livingston's 1-1 draw at home to St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

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

Jamie: You have to feel sorry for Jerome Prior, Daniel Finlayson, and Ryan McGowan, who were all excellent in defence until David Martindale decides to throw Brooklyn Kabongolo on, change the shape, and the clean sheet is gone with none of the players knowing what they're doing. Poor management, 22 games without a win, but at least he can clutch at a sweet, sweet VAR straw.

Roger: Martindale is 100% correct in calling out VAR. It has cost us yet again. Very disappointed as we played some great football on an awful night.

Victoria: It is time for Martindale to go, he has a plan A but never a plan B. He never knows what changes to make in a game and when he does make substitutions they are either too late or kill the game for us. Livi fans are always looking for someone to place the blame, deflecting from the main culprit in the dugout. There is no taking away from the fact that Davie has done a lot for the club in his time here but if he cared about the club as much as he says he does then he would walk away. He is driving fans away very quickly.

Paul: The story has been the same for much of the season, solid performances from most of the players in most matches, but we haven't managed to turn those positives into wins. All we need is a bit of luck, and for VAR to start doing what it was brought in to do. Can I see us going down this year? There's a good chance but it isn't over yet. All we need is a couple of wins, which could lift us off the foot of the table.

Bill: Alex Gogic did foul his opponent to gain an advantage for his goal. Livi have played some attractive football and if some of the decisions against them had been correct they would not be at the bottom of the table.

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Defender Mitchell Robertson has left Celtic to join Scottish Premiership bottom club Livingston on a contract until summer 2029.

The 20-year-old B team captain departs having not made a first-team appearance for Celtic.

Robertson spent the first half of this season on loan at League One leaders Inverness CT, scoring four times in 20 games, and will remain at the Caledonian Stadium for the rest of the campaign.

Watch highlights as St Mirren's Alex Gogic scores a late equaliser to deny Livingston their first victory in the Scottish Premiership since early August.

UK only

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Livingston boss David Martindale: "I'm going to try and compose myself. I'm really, really angry.

"There's a big foul on Joshua Brenet, who is marking Alex Gogic. Gogic pulls his arm. And it's Gogic who scores.

"How can that goal be given? I'm really disappointed. I need to stop talking about this, but what do I do?

"It's costing us big, big points in games.

"VAR isn't making the game better. How long have we had it now? You're still debating penalty decisions.

"I know we'll be stuck with VAR. We need to go full-time, a bank of referees who are full-time.

"I know the difference between a part-time football club and full-time football club. Surely by going to full-time [referees] from part-time is going to make us better.

"For me, it's a wee bit amateur just now."

Livingston moved to within three points of Kilmarnock at the foot of the Scottish Premiership but were denied their first victory in 22 games by Alex Gogic's late equaliser for St Mirren.

Have your say on the game here.

Read our match report here.