Martindale sees tough task ahead but says Livingston control their own destiny

Livingston manager David Martindale says he’s happy the club still have a top six place in their own hands but warned that every match is tough as opposition teams chase their own targets.

A 2-0 defeat at Tynecastle on Saturday left Livi sitting in sixth with two games to play before the split. Wins over St Johnstone and Motherwell after the international break would guarantee a top-half finish this season.

The battle for points in the middle of the Premiership is fierce though, with only one point separating fifth to ninth place, and only four points between Dundee United in fourth and Aberdeen in tenth.

Given the competition, Martindale was content that his side had a clear and simple road to success.

“That’s all you can ask for, that it’s still in your hands,” he said.

“This game was always going to be a big ask. We are sitting 31 games into the season and sitting sixth. We could be sitting on 33 games and down in ninth or 10th.

“It’s that tight and we are going to have to work really hard for any points between now and the split because every team has something to fight for.

“There’s no easy games between now and game 38 but that’s testament to Scottish football.”

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson has guided his side to a comfortable third place, 14 points ahead of the tight pack below them in the table. He was happy with the development of his side and seeing different goalscorers come to the fore in recent matches.

“It’s something we have been working on for a while,” he said.

“There was a period when I think we had Peter Haring, Baningime and Cammy Devlin on 20 games each. So that’s 60 between them and they hadn’t scored a goal yet.

“So we’re trying to get them in there and try and get them up the pitch.

“It’s really important with the movement of the 3-4-3 that the midfielder goes into the 10. I think when they get a goal they then realise it and it spirals from there.”