Livingston vs Motherwell

Motherwell take on Livingston at the Spaghettihad for the first time since February 2024

Goals from Blair Spittal, Sam Nicholson, and Jack Vale secured a second-half comeback against Livingston.

Relegation rivals?

A game at the start of the season many may have billed as a “relegation three-pointer” has, on the surface, become just that: a game where the loser could potentially find themselves at the bottom of the Premiership. Of course, we are far from a relegation scrap just yet but both Motherwell and Livingston were bookies favourites to battle relegation.

Livingston gained promotion last season from the Championship at the first time of asking following relegation in season 23/24, by finishing 2nd in the Scottish Championship and qualifying for the play-offs. Defeating Partick Thistle and Ross County, they ultimately replaced the latter in Scotland’s top flight. They did it by scoring the 3rd most goals in the league, but also by having the meanest defence, conceding just 27 goals all season.

This season, Livi’s start can, in some ways, be mirrored to that of Askou’s Steelmen Galacticos. Both teams have been lauded by pundits for playing a different style of football than we might expect — JBA growing under Wimmer’s influence and moving away from Kettleball, while Martindale has completely changed the script on the Livi of old.

Martindale’s Livingston this season have typically favoured an attacking style of play, starting with a 4-3-3 which has, at times, morphed into a 4-2-3-1 before reverting back to the 4-3-3. The only time we’ve seen the “old” Martindale was when Livi faced Celtic, adopting a more defensive 5-4-1 — which, in fairness, is what most teams tend to do when facing Celtic, particularly away from home, and even more so when you’re the newly promoted side.

However, not all similarities are positive. Livi and Well have only picked up one win apiece this season so far, with Livi’s coming against fellow new boys Falkirk. Both teams have shown a worrying trend of letting points slip and losing at the death — Motherwell against Celtic and Hearts, and Livingston in recent times against Hearts and Rangers. In the eyes of Well supporters, that may be where the similarities end.

Livingston sit with 6 points at the bottom of the top flight, having picked up 3 draws on the road against Killie, Aberdeen and Dundee United, with their remaining games all being losses. Goals haven’t been an issue for the Lions, having scored double the amount of Aberdeen and St Mirren (the Buddies being 7th placed in the league with 5), however, they boast the weakest defence in the league, conceding on average 2 goals a game. That stat, coupled with the chances we’ve seen Motherwell create, could be promising for those of us in the Claret and Amber contingent who will be hoping Livingston are still licking their wounds after last week’s 4-0 hammering at Easter Road. Stats and results, however, mean this game could be hard to predict, as Well are yet to pick up 3 points away from home this season and face a side whose only win has come at home.

Familiar faces

There are many familiar faces in the Livi side for those who follow all levels of the Scottish game: Mo Sylla (formerly of Dundee), Stevie May (St Johnstone and Aberdeen), Andrew Shinnie (ICT), Ryan McGowan (Hearts and Dundee United) and Connor McLellan (Aberdeen and Ayr), to name a few. Well fans in particular will recognise Shane Blaney, who signed for Livi in the summer following the end of his contract at Fir Park.

Livingston’s main men this season have been Danny Wilson — a face all will recognise from his stints with Hearts and Rangers. He was a major figure in Livi’s play-off games last season, scoring and conceding a penalty in the 1-1 draw with County before scoring again to bring the tie back to 2-2 in the return leg — a game Livi memorably won 4-2 in the end. Jerome Prior, Livi’s goalkeeper, has played every match this season so far for them, replacing Shamal George last season.

Undoubtedly, their talisman, however, is Scott Pittman. Playing well into a decade for Livingston, he’s started every game this season, featuring in 92% of Livi’s top-flight minutes so far. With 3 goals in all competitions from midfield, he remains a driving force in Martindale’s side. Livi will be hoping Robbie Muirhead can also continue to find the net and add to his 4 goals in all competitions.

In all, I believe we’re in for a very tasty affair at the newly named Home of the Set Fare Arena (we miss you, Spaghettihad) — a game that could be a close call but could open up for either team due to the way they play.