David Martindale told his Livingston players to take responsibility for their predicament as he labelled their first-half defending “shambolic” following a 3-1 defeat by Motherwell.
Theo Bair scored twice and set up another for Blair Spittal inside 35 minutes, with Scott Pittman pulling one back midway through the half.
Livi pushed for a lifeline after the break but never really troubled their former goalkeeper Liam Kelly as they slipped further adrift at the foot of the cinch Premiership.
Their visit to Fir Park provided a chance to cut the gap at the bottom to one point but they are now six behind Ross County, who have two games in hand.
“The first-half performance, I never saw it coming,” Martindale said. “It was well below the standard expected of Livingston players.
“They should probably have been three up before they scored. Our defending was shocking. It was shambolic. And it comes from the individuals on the park.
“I spoke to the players, we can talk about game plans, tactics, formations, it’s all bulls*** if you don’t do your one-v-one jobs properly.
“As a defensive unit, the individual errors we made in the first half were terrible.
“We get ourselves back in the game, and we shouldn’t have been anywhere the game, and we shoot ourselves in the foot again with a mistake. It gives us a mountain to climb.”
Motherwell had not won in 15 games but started brightly to leave Livi with two points from 12 matches since beating the Steelmen in West Lothian.
Martindale added: “I have sat in numerous press conferences and tried to take the pressure off the players and be positive. I don’t feel that after today’s game.
“Players need to start taking a bit more responsibility. It’s too easy in modern-day football – sack the manager, sack the manager.
“What about the players? They now need to start taking responsibility.
“I tried to take the pressure off them but we are in a relegation battle now and that first-half performance was diabolical. Second half was a bit better but not much.”
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell praised his players for their approach after they doubled their tally of first-half league goals for the season.
“Everyone has spoken about the poor run we have been on and you need to show massive character to get yourself out of that,” said Kettlewell, whose side moved up to eighth.
“I thought the first half, especially the start to the game, was indicative of where we were and what the players were pouring into the game.
“Everyone with that one cause, to break the cycle and give ourselves a chance to move up the table
“The only way we could do that was defend better, switch on better, and then from my side of things it was very purposeful in going with three strikers, and going with mobility at the top end of the pitch where we felt we could try and expose Livingston. We got joy from it.
“Second half wasn’t pretty but you know Livingston are going to fight for their cause and you know they are going to go straight up to the striker.
“So what you have to do is defend against that and the three points were always going to be the most important thing.”
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. EPL 1st big match 2025/26Man Utd VS Arsenal Gyokeres now It's like he never left LOL Juventus in Group G of Club World Cup I can't believe Lamine Yamal is actually dating her Eric Ten Hag with hair. Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, FootballLaughss, originaltrollfootball)...
1After a mostly dismal campaign, the Tottenham captain, 32, could bid farewell to the club after 10 years, with only one year left on his contract, though Spurs will not be letting him go cheaply.According to Turkish reporter Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, he could be set to reunite with former boss Jose Mourinho.A face-to-face meeting between player and manager to discuss a potential move is said to have tak...
Liverpool is closing in on a deal to sign Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez after securing deals for Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz.Kerkez has been earmarked as the ideal long-term successor to Andy Robertson, who could leave the club this summer amid interest from Diego Simeone's Atletic Madrid.Bournemouth is preparing for life after Kerkez, and on Monday the South Coast club announced the s...
Marcus Rashford is looking for his next move after a loan spell at Aston VillaNewcastle United could give Marcus Rashford a route back into the Champions League. The Manchester United forward's time at Old Trafford looks to be up, but his options are limited.Barcelona had been thought to be Rashfird's preference, but the Catalan club have been eyeing other targets. Nico Williams and Luis Diaz are ...
Wirtz decided on Liverpool move 'months' agoGerman sensation Florian Wirtz made it clear "months" ago that he wanted to leave Bayer Leverkusen for Liverpool, according to Germany chief Rudi Voller.Speaking on Toni Kroos' podcast 'Einfach Mal Luppen', Voller said: "A few months ago, he hinted to me, as did his father, that he was inclined to go to Liverpool."Sesko's agent sends Arsenal 'blackmail' ...
New Tottenham manager Thomas Frank kicks off his tenure at the club at home to newly promoted Burnley on the opening day of the Premier League season, before a trip Manchester City the following week.Spurs' first London derby comes against Chelsea (home) on Nov. 1. which is followed by Manchester United (home) on Nov. 8. and the first North London derby of the season against Arsenal at the Emirate...
Arsenal will need to navigate a tricky opening run to the 2025-26 Premier League season, beginning the season with a clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.They then face away games against Liverpool and Newcastle United before a home clash with Manchester City.- Full Premier League fixture listMikel Arteta has been among a host of Premier League managers who have been outspoken the usual...
Manchester City will begin their bid to regain the Premier League title next season with an opening clash away to Wolves, the fixture list revealed on Wednesday.Pep Guardiola failed to lift any trophies last season for the first time since 2017. To right that ship next season he will have to nagivate an opening run that then sees City face Tottenham Hotspur (away) and Brighton (home) before clashe...
Man United have been handed a brutal schedule to open the 2025-26 Premier League season that will begin with an opening-day clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford, the league's fixture list revealed on Wednesday.Ruben Amorim is hoping to see United rebound from their worst-ever Premier League season but will face an uphill battle early on as they face Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea in their open...
Liverpool face a difficult run of games to begin their Premier League title defence next season, opening with a home clash against Bournemouth before facing Newcastle United (away) and Arsenal (home).The Premier League released its fixture list for next season on Wednesday, with the the first Merseyside derby will coming after just four games on Sept. 20. Other major early clashes come against Che...
- 1 DONE DEAL: Marseille confirm CJ Egan-Riley signing from Burnley
- 2 Chloe Kelly enjoys sun-kissed holiday as Arsenal star rests before Euro 2025
- 3 Jack Grealish set to leave Man City this summer
- 4 Man Utd have Hugo Ekitike 'advantage'
- 5 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 6 Stunning Euro U21 reporter dubbed 'queen of Europe' in bold dress
- 7 Man Utd make decision on replacing Andre Onana with Emi Martinez this summer
- 8 PSG vs Atletico Madrid Prediction 16 June 2025
- 9 DONE DEAL: Celta Vigo sign permanently Ilaix from RB Leipzig
- 10 Laura Woods gives update on post-pregnancy body