Livingston Manager Calls for Change After Defeat
"That looked like a team that has accepted being in a relegation battle or being relegated. There’s got to be change. It’s either me or the players - it’s that simple."
Livingston manager David Martindale did not hold back in his assessment following his team's disappointing 3-1 defeat to Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership. His candid remarks highlighted the gravity of the situation as his side finds itself at the bottom of the league, four points behind Kilmarnock and nine adrift of St Mirren, who occupy the relegation safety zone at the halfway mark of the season.
With no victories in their last 18 matches, including 17 consecutive league losses, questions arise about the future of Martindale's squad.
'Worst at home by a country mile'
Before the match, Martindale had expressed some optimism after a weekend defeat to Celtic, where his team had taken the lead twice before ultimately losing 4-2. He noted that their performances warranted more points but acknowledged the need for change in January, stating he hoped for “five players in, five players out” to rejuvenate the team. However, following the loss to United, he may be considering more significant alterations.
Martindale described the performance as the “worst at home by a country mile,” criticizing his players for their lackluster effort. "Terrible goals we gave away. It is the first time I can really question the group. The first goal went in and then we just felt sorry for ourselves and there was just an acceptance. You have got to question the mentality within the dressing room,” he said.
He lamented the dreadful run his team is on, emphasizing that the longer the streak continues, the more challenging each subsequent match becomes. Martindale characterized the season's start as the “worst,” noting that his team was “bullied” in every area of the pitch and struggled to create meaningful scoring opportunities.
Familiar Territory for Martindale and Livingston
Two years ago, on the same date, Livingston also suffered a 3-1 defeat to Motherwell, prompting similar sentiments from Martindale. He remarked at the time that the first half was among the worst he had witnessed since taking charge. That loss left the team winless in 12 matches, ultimately leading to their relegation.
Currently, Livingston has secured only nine points from 19 games, in stark contrast to St Johnstone’s 14 points from the same number of matches last season, which ultimately led to St Johnstone's relegation.
The outlook for Martindale and his team appears grim.
'Softness You Don’t Expect'
While one might question the job security of any other manager in Scotland under similar circumstances, Martindale, who has been with the club for five seasons, has survived past crises. However, former Scotland striker Billy Dodds has raised concerns about the team's survival chances.
"Tonight was as poor as it’s been, and I’m not surprised he’s said what he’s said," Dodds commented on Sportscene. "They need to find a way to secure a win and regain some confidence, but it looks like they and Kilmarnock are now in a relegation battle."
Dundee United recorded 22 goal attempts during the match, their highest total this season, which surprised pundit Scott Allan. "Some of the chances they are giving up are really poor. There is a bit of softness there that you don’t expect from a David Martindale team," he noted.
Livingston has already taken steps to address their issues by signing forward Joshua Zimmerman, with midfielder Emmanuel Danso on the way and defender Brooklyn Kabongolo recalled from his loan at Arbroath. However, the question remains: have these changes come too late?