Cole turns up volume with brace
Livi enjoyed Opus early on but Jack says talks needed after tumbling out of tune
Two wins on spin for Steelmen as Devante stars
LIFE IS LIFE had been a song for Europe as Livingston scorched their way up the Premiership charts.
During a run of 14 games unbeaten and 10 clean sheets, Opus had been belted out inside their dressing room after matches as a Betfred Cup Final showdown was also booked.
It may be a bit Tom Petty to suggest Free Fallin’ is now a more appropriate tune, although the evidence at Fir Park suggested burnout and fixture overload are taking their toll.
A sixth game without a win, only one point taken since St Johnstone ended their streak at the start of last month, and the sense their season is in danger of petering out.
David Martindale has pledged not to allow a Hampden defeat to derail his fifth-placed side’s campaign and pursuit of a Europa League spot.
The Lions boss was blunt as he said: “The boys have to find that inner confidence and quickly.”
Livi defender Jack Fitzwater echoed those sentiments and admitted a season that has provided a feel-good subplot is starting to unravel.
The former West Brom academy player believes a summit is in order to make sure they get back on track when facing Hamilton at home on Saturday.
The 23-year-old said: “We don’t want to throw it away. We have got ourselves into a great position and at the moment that’s what we are doing.
“It feels like we are a little bit low on confidence, especially with the Cup Final loss thrown in.
“We have to get back to basics. We have to try to grind out a result on Saturday. It’s up to us as players.
“Individual errors have cost us but I can’t put my finger on it. As players, we need to take responsibility and have a chat with each other because you don’t just turn into bad players overnight.”
If the Accies clash is to trigger a change in the mood music, then a major improvement is required from what was served up in Lanarkshire.
From the first whistle Livingston were uncharacteristically slack and second best to Motherwell in all departments.
A lack of intensity in their play allowed the home side to assert themselves, so much so that Jordan Roberts, Tony Watt and Stephen O’Donnell could all have been on the scoresheet in the opening minutes.
Lions keeper Robby McCrorie managed to keep them at bay but could do nothing to prevent Well edging ahead in the 31st minute from the penalty spot.
Matej Poplatnik’s clumsy foul on Robbie Crawford was needless, referee Colin Steven rightly awarded the spotkick and Devante Cole drilled the ball home to get himself on the scoresheet for a second week running.
It prompted Livi to awaken from their attacking slumber and Poplatnik’s powerful header was brilliantly kept out by Liam Kelly just before the break.
The Lions failed to clear their lines in 59 minutes and Cole helped himself to his second by swivelling inside the box before burying a shot past McCrorie.
Livi reduced the deficit 60 seconds later, Fitzwater heading home from Josh Mullin’s free-kick to spark a fightback of sorts.
That was doused in the 69th minute when Cole turned provider for Chris Long, the Englishman sliding a shot under McCrorie.
Fitzwater was incensed over what he believed was a handball by Cole leading up to Well’s killer third goal. However, he could make no case for the defence for the other two as he admitted the Lions are being far too easily breached.
He said: “Everyone is so frustrated inside our dressing room. Motherwell’s third goal has killed the game.
“If it’s a handball, it’s a handball. But we shouldn’t give them the time and space to get into that position anyway.
“All three goals were avoidable. They just feel like a kick in the teeth.
“We are not defending too badly overall but we can’t concede those three goals. It’s not good enough.”
This display was much more like Motherwell – back-to-back wins and once again showing the stomach for a fight.
To be fair, there were mitigating circumstances for a Livi side playing their third game in seven days.
But Fitzwater refused to use fatigue as an excuse and added: “I know we lost against Rangers but the level of performance was quite high. We have gone from that on Wednesday to that on Saturday and it just wasn’t good enough.”