European hopefuls urged to be cool

Livingston boss David Martindale has challenged his European hopefuls to keep their cool amid the top-six fire.

The Lions recorded a fifth-place 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.

The year before, Livi were the top flight’s shock troops, finishing in the bottom half but well clear of relegation trouble.

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 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.

Livi head to Easter Road to face Hibs tonight.

“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. This time it’s fantastic that we will actually have a wee bit of pressure on us and have something to play for.”