Livi must use Hampden pain as motivation urges Martindale
Livingston manager David Martindale has urged his players to use their Hampden pain to propel them forward.
Martindale was already beginning the process of moving on from their Betfred Cup final disappointment on the pitch of the national stadium.
The 46-year-old will learn lessons from Sunday's defeat by St Johnstone but he vowed to put it behind him quickly.
There is an immediate chance to do that tonight when Livi host Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers, who are only seven points away from clinching the title.
But Livi have their own target to achieve as they look to secure a top-six place. Livi, in fifth spot, have a fivepoint cushion on seventhplaced Dundee United with two games in hand and Martindale wants to focus on removing any doubt about their post-split destiny.
"We can't dwell on it, we have to look forward to
Wednesday night now," he said. "As much as it hurts just now, we have got to use that as fuel going forward. If you can't take that on the chin, if you can't self-reflect, if you can't use that as motivation going forward, I don't think you should be in Premiership football.
"I will definitely do that. We need to use it as fuel to kick on and try to secure top six as early as possible.
"We started on that process on the park. The quicker we get it out of the system the better.
"I have been through bigger disappointments in life than this and I will definitely get through this one."
Meanwhile, St Johnstone midfielder Craig Conway is focused on following up their Betfred Cup success by securing the top-six place he feels their play merits. Saints have a crucial Scottish Premiership game at bottom club Hamilton tonight, with Saints six points behind sixth-placed St Mirren but with a game in hand.
Conway said: "In my opinion, the way we play and the way we have been playing recently, we deserve to be in the top six. But you have got to get results and Hamilton are fighting for their lives and trying to stay up. It will be a tough game.”