Bartley happy to dish it out to team-mates too
Marvin Bartley’s TV punditry debut saw him pinpoint his Premiership rivals’ failings.
But the Livingston star isn’t afraid to give his own team both barrels, too.
Livi aim to finish the first half of the season on a high today against Hibs. As a Scottish Cup winner with the Hibees, it’s a game Bartley is relishing.
But if Livi are to have any hope of turning over his old side, he insists they will need to cut out the errors that cost them dearly against Aberdeen on Boxing Day.
“When you look at the goals we conceded, it’s not acceptable,” said Bartley. “It’s individual mistakes. And it seems to be the same thing all the time. “Nobody scores a screamer against us. We’re conceding goals that we really shouldn’t be – and that needs to stop. “A couple of boys held their hands up in the dressing room and said they thought they should have done better. We know that.
“But it’s getting to the point of the season where I don’t want to see hands anymore. We need to take action.
“That comes from all of us – not just the defence.
“I think we should have a few more points on the board given the way we’ve been playing, and that’s the frustrating thing.
“We’ve thrown away leads a couple of times, and against Aberdeen, both goals could have been avoided.
“At the moment it seems like it’s the Livingston way for us to concede goals that we shouldn’t be.”
Bartley’s Sportscene debut last Sunday night saw him share analysis duties with Michael Stewart.
The Livi star admits to being out of his comfort zone on the BBC couch.
But he will be on more familiar territory today when Hibs arrive at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
Having enjoyed so much success as an Easter Road player, Bartley enjoys good relations with everyone at the club. However, those relationships will count for nothing come kick-off time.
“It’s a football game,” said Bartley. “That’s the mindset I have, so whether it’s Hibs or anyone else, I just do my best.
“Hibs will be on a high after the derby, for sure. It’s up to us to impose ourselves upon them.
“I made friends for life there. But they know when I cross the white like there is no friends. I’ll do what I’ve got to do.”