David Martindale hopes Livingston can take confidence from tasting victory for the first time in 14 games with their 2-1 Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers.
The Lions are six points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership and have not won in the league since October.
But they are in the draw for the fifth round of the cup after Jamie Brandon cancelled out Jack Hamilton’s early opener for Raith and Dan MacKay’s header settled the tie in the 82nd minute.
Martindale was full of praise for his players.
He said: “I hope there is going to be a bump from it, momentum is huge in football.
“Results breed confidence. Hopefully the players can take some credit, I think we’ve played better and been beaten.
“If Raith had taken their chances early doors they might have been out of sight.
“I do think the players have to take huge credit.
“I thought we started the game unbelievably bad. We went a goal behind and were lucky not to be two behind. We got the penalty and missed that.
“At that point, it would have been really easy for the players to feel sorry for themselves, especially with the run we had been on.
“But, from that minute onwards, I think the players have to take huge credit. They found a way to win a game of football and they did that, nothing to do with Davie Martindale, the staff, tactics, formations.”
Livi won without the services of star attacker Joel Nouble, who Martindale revealed had been left out following a bid from a club in England.
He added: “I’ve had a wee bit of interest in Noubs from two teams in League One in England. There’s two teams in the Scottish Prem too.
“A club from down south put an offer in yesterday and it’s not a million miles away from where I think we need to be.
“I went back to them and explained that and said, ‘look if you tidy up that, tidy up that I reckon we can get this done’.
“I spoke to Joel, he was a bit disappointed that I was pulling him out of the squad but I felt it was unfair on him and potentially us.”
Meanwhile, Raith manager Ian Murray reckons his side should have won and hopes pushing top-flight opposition so hard will inspire them in their Championship title race with Dundee United.
Following a draw with Kilmarnock and defeat to Hibernian in the Viaplay Cup earlier in the campaign, he said: “I think days like this whet the appetite for where we want to be.
“Every time we’ve played Premiership sides this season it’s been really tight and once again we put so much into this one.
“We created a lot of chances and didn’t take them – some of the misses were unfortunate, some of them were poor.
“Against this higher level of opposition, though, you need to be more clinical.
“That’s the bottom line in cup competitions. We could have been ahead before we scored and then in the second-half I thought we were better than them.”
Let's start our Daily Laugh today.Poor Man Utd Napoli step up talks over Darwin Nunez deal Man City's Cherki wants Man Utd revenge This is why Trent can speak Spanish How are there 2 Mbappes? Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t retiring anytime soon. This is what football is all about. Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, originaltrollfootball)...
Ruben Amorim and Manchester United might have an advantage in the race for Frankfurt's standout attacker Hugo Ekitike as he attracts Prem interestMan Utd might have an advantage in the race for Hugo EkitikeManchester United might have an advantage in the race for Frankfurt standout Hugo Ekitike.The 22-year-old has been linked with a move to the Premier League this summer, with United, Chelsea and ...
KYLE WALKER has agreed to join Everton on a one-year deal. The England right-back has been locked in talks with Toffees chiefs since his return from his loan spell at AC Milan. Kyle Walker is bringing the curtain down on his glorious Man City careerEverton and current club Manchester City will now thrash out whether it is a permanent deal or just a 12-month loan while he sees out the remainder of ...
Chelsea have enquired about Lyon sensation Malick Fofana as they continue to look for Jadon Sancho's replacement.Chelsea eye move for Lyon's FofanaBlues looking for Sancho's replacementChelsea face LAFC in Club World Cup on MondayWHAT HAPPENED?Per The Athletic, the Blues have made a verbal enquiry about 20-year-old Lyon winger Fofana as they look to bolster their squad in the summer transfer windo...
Everton keen to rival Fenerbahce for WalkerPer journalist Mike McGrath, Everton have shown interest in signing Kyle Walker after the Manchester City star failed to secure an AC Milan move.Last week, reports emerged in the Turkish media that Fenerbahce are keen on signing the veteran full-back as Jose Mourinho is aiming to bolster his squad ahead of the new season. Fenerbahce have even formally sub...
Arsenal, Man Utd ask Real Madrid to name Brahim priceArsenal and Manchester United have sounded out Real Madrid over a price for Brahim Diaz.The former Manchester City midfielder has attracted enquiries from both Premier League giants, says Okdiario.For his part, Brahim is settled in Madrid, though there is concern inside his camp over the imminent arrival of Franco Mastantuono from River Plate.Th...
DONE DEAL: Celta Vigo sign permanently Ilaix from RB LeipzigCelta Vigo have signed permanently Iliax Moriba from RB Leipzig.The midfielder had spent last season on-loan with Celta, which have now decided to sign him permanently from RBL for a fee of €6m.Celta announced today: "RC Celta has exercised the purchase option agreed upon last summer with RB Leipzig and has completed its second sign...
Japhet Tanganga's Millwall contract includes a modest £1.2m release clause (Image: Getty)Crystal Palace are interested in signing Japhet Tanganga from south London rivals Millwall. But the Eagles' pursuit of the defender will depend on the sale of Marc Guehi, who is once again attracting interest from some of the Premier League's top sides.Tanganga has spent the past 18 months at The Den, ini...
Andre Onana is set to remain Man Utd's starting goalkeeper (Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)Andre Onana is poised to remain as Manchester United's first-choice goalkeeper next season. Despite the Reds' boss Ruben Amorim desiring a new No. 1, seeking a replacement for Onana isn't high on the agenda as United focus on revamping a squad that ended up in 15th place last season.United had an...
Jack Grealish has been left out of Man City's Club World Cup squad (Image: Getty)Liverpool could play an important role in saving Jack Grealish from his Manchester City nightmare this summer. The former Aston Villa talisman has been left out of Pep Guardiola's Club World Cup squad and put up for sale, with City hoping to recoup some of the £100million they paid four years ago, or at least eas...
- 1 Jack Grealish set to leave Man City this summer
- 2 PSG vs Atletico Madrid Prediction 16 June 2025
- 3 Laura Woods gives update on post-pregnancy body
- 4 Chloe Kelly enjoys sun-kissed holiday as Arsenal star rests before Euro 2025
- 5 DONE DEAL: Marseille confirm CJ Egan-Riley signing from Burnley
- 6 'If you want to understand, it's really obvious' – USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino responds to Christian Pulisic, eager to move past off-field drama
- 7 Tottenham make 'mega £70m bid for Bryan Mbeumo' as Man Utd fear hijack
- 8 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 9 Daily Laugh - Liverpool are spending big
- 10 Portugal and France play out draw to start U21 Euro campaign