Martindale laments ‘ridiculous’ game management from Livi
Ross County 3 Livingston 2
LIVINGSTON manager David Martindale bemoaned “ridiculous” game management following his side’s last-gasp defeat against Ross County.
Livi fought back from Eamonn Brophy’s first-half double in Dingwall as a brace from Bruce Anderson got his side level with four minutes left. But Josh Sims netted in stoppage time for the hosts to earn a 3-2 win which leaves Livi six points adrift at the foot of the cinch Premiership table.
Martindale said: “I thought our game management for that third goal was ridiculous – terrible.
“In the first half, it was a wee bit toothless, gutless – we couldn’t get close enough. Our distances were all wrong.
“The first goal was a blatant error, under no pressure at all. A lack of focus leads to the first goal. It gives Ross County momentum and takes a wee bit of belief away from us.
“The second goal we don’t go in tight enough. We were too narrow and give Brophy too much room.
“We go in at half time 2-0 down and make changes. It wasn’t down to the two who came off. We could probably have looked at the defensive unit as being the ones at fault. But you have to change something so we changed to 4-4-2 and put Bruce on and get the next goal.
“We threw caution to the wind in the last 10 minutes with big Kurtis Guthrie on and get the second goal back. At that point, maybe I should have changed it back to a back four or five and taken the point. I never, I thought the momentum was with us.
“Unfortunately we get done with a sucker punch. Again, defensively, we’ve got to do a lot better as a unit.”
Livi were clearly boosted after ending a 16-match winless run with a home success against St Mirren last week, but it was County who posed the greater threat as they sought to record their first victory of 2024.
Livi’s best chance fell when Jamie Brandon made a smart dash down the right side before sending over a probing cross which George Wickens was glad to claw away.
Andrew Shinnie, following up, saw his effort blocked before the ball was eventually scrambled clear.
Livi proved to be much less composed under pressure and paid a heavy price as a consequence of failing to shackle Brophy, who followed up his 21st-minute opener with a second in the 27th minute.
But they threatened to eat into their two-goal deficit when Tete Yengi unleashed a powerful shot from the left side, forcing Wickens to push the ball over the bar.
It also served as a warning that the Livi players were not of a mind to simply roll over and accept their fate.
If the County players required any further proof that they were a long way from being home and dry they got it within 67 seconds of the restart. Anderson made an immediate impact when he found the net from the centre of the box following a set-piece.
It then required the combined efforts of Wickens and Efete to deny Jason Holt a 61st-minute equaliser as Livi stepped up the pressure.
Holt was again at the centre of the action in the 71st minute, this time forcing a quick reaction block by Wickens. And when Anderson struck with four minutes remaining Livi looked like they had salvaged a point – that was until Sims produced the cruellest of endings.
County interim manager Don Cowie hailed his side’s character after keeping their composure following Livingston’s equaliser.
“We were very good in the first half and were worthy at 2-0 up,” said Cowie. “I was really disappointed to lose a goal so early in the second half. It gave Livingston a massive boost and it became a difficult half of football.
“But we hung in there and came up with a bit of magic to win the game. I’m delighted for the group.”