Livi boss apologises for ‘immature’ sending off
Martindalevowstolearnfromirresponsiblebehaviour
Livingston boss David Martindale has vowed to learn from his ‘irresponsible and immature’ actions that saw him sent off against Hibs.
Despite escaping a ban, the 48-year-old was sent to the stands late in their 4-1 loss for an ‘offensive gesture’ aimed at Hibs keeper David Marshall.
And while the boss says it was done in jest – and that the keeper offered to help with any disciplinary case brought against Martindale – he admits that it was foolish.
The gaffer raised his middle finger towards Marshall to indicate that there was one minute left – but concedes that he shouldn’t have done it.
He said: “It was irresponsible and foolish of me to do what I did. I’m meant to be the leader of this club and in hindsight I shouldn’t have done it.
“I like to have a laugh with the officials and a bit of humour. I think that is better than shouting at them. Some of them can take it and others can’t.
“At the time I thought I was being humorous but, looking back, I shouldn’t have done what I did.
“There are kids watching and I make the gesture. They don’t hear what I am saying and see that David Marshall and I are laughing. I shouldn’t have done it.”
He added: “I have to educate myself. It was irresponsible and immature and I shouldn’t be doing it. I sent Lee Johnson a message after as we missed each other due to speaking to the press.
“I explained what happened and he said not to worry about it.
“I was losing 4-1, there was some frustration from me, but I didn’t do it because I was frustrated.”
Despite taking the lead after 10 minutes thanks to Joel Nouble’s fine finish, it became a horror show against the Hibees as they slumped to a fourth straight loss.
Elie Youan levelled things up on 28 minutes after beating the offside trap before sclaffing a second beyond the wrong-footed Shamal George 10 minutes later. Things went from bad to worse after the break with Jack Fitzwater shown an early red card for clipping Matthew Hoppe when the striker was through on goal before Stephane Omeonga turned a Chris Cadden cross into his own net.
Livi then suffered a double injury blow with Ayo Obileye and Omeonga forced off – the latter when they had already used their quota of substitutions.
Hibs added a fourth through Mykola Kukharevych, with George picking up a hand injury in the build-up and Martindale ordered off shortly after.
The dejected gaffer said: “I’ve been here a million times before. At clubs of this size you’re going to lose games of football, but what I will say is the performance levels since Inverness haven’t been there.
“The boys have maybe lost a bit of confidence and belief, but it’s up to me to get that back and I will get that back.”
I have to educate myself. It was irresponsible and immature David Martindale