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David Martindale was in a similar position two years ago

ByClive Lindsay

BBC Sport Scotland

Watch Livingston v Dundee Utd highlights

30/12/25

"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 is not a man to mince his words at the best of times, but his reaction to his side's meek 3-1 Scottish Premiership defeat by Dundee United reached a new level of honesty.

It leaves the West Lothian side bottom, four points behind Kilmarnock and nine adrift of St Mirren and relegation safety at the halfway stage.

So, having failed to win in 18 outings - and their past 17 in the league - are Martindale's side doomed already?

'Worst at home by a country mile'

Before kick-off, Martindale spoke about how he took some positives out of the weekend defeat by Celtic, with his side leading twice before losing 4-2.

He said their performances had deserved more points but nevertheless revealed he hoped to have "five players in, five players out" to freshen up his side in January.

After defeat by United, he will perhaps be wondering if deeper surgery is required.

"Worst performance at home by a country mile," he said. "Second all over the park. 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.

"The run we're on is horrendous. We knew the Premiership was going to be difficult, but the longer that run we are on, the harder the next game becomes."

The "worst start of the season", "bullied at the back, bullied up front, bullied in midfield", "disjointed all over the park", "half chances but no real passages of play".

This was a game where there were no crumbs of comfort, but what hope for a recovery?

Sounds familiar for Martindale and Livi

Two years ago to the day, Livingston lost 3-1 to Motherwell at Fir Park and Martindale's comments then have a familiar ring.

"That first half was probably one of the worst I've seen since I've been in at Livingston," he told BBC Scotland that day.

That loss left his side without a win in 12 and six points adrift of Ross County - that gap had increased to 10 by the end of the season as the West Lothian side returned to the Championship.

Last season, St Johnstone had 14 points from 20 games, compared to Livingston's current nine from 19.

The Perth club were three points behind Hearts and five adrift of County and would finish the same number of points adrift of the Dingwall side as they filled the two relegation spots.

The omens for Martindale and his side are not good to say the least.

'Softness there you don't expect'

Were it any other manager in Scotland, you would be questioning whether they were at risk of the sack.

But Martindale, 51, is in his fifth season in charge - having been at the club even longer behind the scenes - and survived previous crises.

Former Scotland striker Billy Dodds, though, is concerned about the team's chances of survival.

"Tonight was as poor as it's been and I'm not surprised he's said what he's said," Dodds said on Sportscene. "Going on this, David Martindale will not be sleeping.

"Somehow they are going to have to get a win and get some confidence, but it looks like they and Killie are battling it out now against relegation."

United had 22 goal attempts at Almondvale - their highest total in a match this season - which came as a surprise to another Sportscene pundit, Scott Allan.

"Some of the chances they are giving up are really poor," he said. "There is a bit of softness there that you don't expect from a David Martindale team."

Livingston have already paid an undisclosed fee to sign forward Joshua Zimmerman, midfielder Emmanuel Danso is on the way, and defender Brooklyn Kabongolo has been recalled from his loan to Arbroath.

Martindale has his January changes in motion, but have the wheels started turning too late?