Martindale keeping cool as race for Europe heats up
LIVINGSTON boss David Martindale has challenged his European hopefuls to keep their cool amid the top-six fire.
The Lions recorded a fifthplace finish last term but were denied the chance to slug it out with the Premiership’s best performers after the split as Covid-19 brought the campaign to a premature halt.
This season, they will be required to fight all the way to the wire to hold off St Johnstone’s charge for a possible European slot.
Martindale’s team currently sit four points ahead of the Perth men in fifth place – which might be good enough for a place in next season’s inaugural Europa Conference League if either Rangers, Hibernian or Aberdeen go on to lift the Scottish Cup and they get dispensation from UEFA for not having a youth academy in place.
“We’re speaking a lot about sporting integrity right now with this Super League row but everyone loves to see an underdog doing well so Livingston having the opportunity to get into Europe would be incredible,” he said.
“The boys deserve massive, massive credit for that as we still have the opportunity of Europe. We finished fifth last year but Covid hit and we didn’t actually get the opportunity to participate in the top six.
“The previous year we finished ninth but we were in no-man’s land as we weren’t under threat of relegation. We were coming to the end of the season, boys were coming out of contract, others were thinking about getting married or getting away with their families.
“This time it’s fantastic that we will actually have a wee bit of pressure on us and have something to play for. I think we will use that as fuel going into the last four games of the season.”
That challenge will continue tonight when the Lions make the short journey to Easter Road, with Hibs midfielder Alex Gogic admitting that he too is spurred on by the thought of European football next season.
“As a player, it’s one of my biggest goals,” he said. “I wanted to play for my national team, which I’ve achieved, and now the aim is to play in Europe. Hopefully I’ll achieve that as well.”