Martindale is ‘gutted’ for unlucky Sibbald
David Martindale admitted his heart went out to jinxed Craig Sibbald who was stretchered off during yesterday’s Dens Park encounter.
Martindale watched his creative midfielder’s luck take another turn for the worse as he came off second-best in a first-half challenge with Dundee’s Shaun Byrne which forced him to go to hospital.
And the Livingston gaffer couldn’t disguise his disappointment after seeing Sibbald’s latest slice of misfortune.
Martindale said: “Sibbs has been taken straight to hospital.
“It looks like he has caught a stud in his ankle. I haven’t seen the challenge back. I obviously haven’t seen Craig either, but he has been taken away.
“I keep talking about Sibbs for the wrong reasons, Covid, asthma, throwing him in too early.
“I feel rotten for him as he hasn’t had a chance to recover from most of the problems, especially Covid.
“I think he had a touch of long Covid and I am gutted for him. When he is on form he is one of the first names on the team sheet.
“He’s very creative and he has been a great player for me.”
Martindale knew it wasn’t the most entertaining encounter but was glad his bottom-dogs dig in to pick up a valuable point.
He added: “It wasn’t the greatest of games to watch. It was blood and guts, both sets of players were getting stuck in.
“Dundee probably had the better chances overall but I think we had a few ourselves to have something more.
“We got a clean sheet and a point so we have to be pleased.”
Martindale was full of praise for Dundee and Griffiths and insists they did well to keep the Dark Blues at bay.
He said: “I thought their movement was quite good and they will cause teams problems with the strikers they have.
“It didn’t look like Leigh Griffiths hadn’t played a lot of games over the last few years.
“They bring on Jason Cummings and they have really good skills.
“They two together will cause teams problems, so to keep a clean sheet is pleasing.”