Martindale will keep working hard to win matches as Livingston toil

David Martindale insists he is not ready to accept that Livingston are heading for relegation despite watching his team fall 10 points adrift of cinch Premiership safety.

The Lions' 3-0 defeat at Hibs on saturday, coupled with ross County's victory over Hearts, left the West Lothian outfit further adrift at the bottom.

The weekend's clash became a damage limitation exercise, with hibs scoring all three goals within 22 minutes.

Livings ton' s survival prospectslook bleak as martin dale' s side have only managed three wins in 30 league outings so far – but he has refused to throw in the towel.

Martindale said: "I see it how I've seen it for the last two or three months.

"I wake up, go into my work and focus on trying to win the next game of football. that' s not going to change.

"Whether it's mathematically impossible to stay up or not then the desire to go and win games of football won' t change.

"I'm not wanting to sit here and sound deluded. I'm well aware of how big the hole we are in is. But it's not going to stop me getting out my bed everymorning to come in and try to win that game of football. that' s how I’ve been approaching it."

Jordan Obita, Myziane Maolida and Adam Le Fondre all found the net for Hibs in a blistering start to the game.

Le Fondre made his first start since October following an injury lay-off and showed he still has a big part to play under boss Nick Montgomery.

Montgomery said: "He's an important player for us, but only when he's fit and available.his movement, and the way he brings others into play is the reason why he's had the career he's had."