Can Livingston survive unbeaten until the split? David Martindale fairytale continues

When David Martindale, while answering reporters’ questions following Tuesday’s win over Aberdeen, expressed the hope that his side’s current unbeaten run might last “until the end of the season”, one expects his tongue was fully implanted in his cheek.

Livingston manager David Martindale during his side's 2-0 win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, which made it 14 matches unbeaten since he took over (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)

However, the way it’s going for the manager of the month for December, the surely prospective manager of the month for January (the winner of that award will be announced in the coming days) and – who would bet against it? - the potentially cup winning manager of the month for February, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Livingston might just do that.

Whatever the colour of their shirt (it was black in Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Pittodrie, their tenth clean sheet in 14 games since Martindale took charge), whatever the personnel (there were five changes to the team that drew 0-0 with the same team on Saturday), they keep on rolling along.

It’s certainly realistic to think they could remain unbeaten in the league until the split, seven games away. They have a Betfred Cup dress rehearsal this weekend at home against St Johnstone before hosting Hamilton Accies in midweek.

Away games follow against Dundee United and St Mirren before the countdown begins to their Hampden appointment. That will take care of itself – with a midweek home clash with Rangers to follow.

That is the only clash where it’s hard to see Livi winning, if only because of the run Rangers themselves are on. Even then, the Ibrox side could only draw 0-0 at the Tony Macaroni Arena when they played there last. They were the first points dropped by Steven Gerrard’s side this season.

A trip to face Motherwell at Fir Park follows and then comes a potentially huge clash against Hibs at home. The Easter Road side are currently third having leapfrogged Aberdeen after they posted a victory at St Mirren while Livingston were winning at Pittodrie.

No wonder Martindale believes Europe is now a realistic target. To qualify, Livi must finish in the top four. He might just get the job on a permanent basis in that case – as it stands, Martindale, due to difficulties associated with his criminal past, was only given the post “until the end of the season” when he officially replaced Gary Holt in December.

Martindale has now bettered Martin O’Neill’s early months at Celtic, which is the most recent point of comparison when assessing dazzling starts made by managers at Scottish clubs. O’Neill’s perfect start to the 2000/01 campaign was derailed by HJK Helsinki (despite losing 2-1 aet, Celtic progressed on aggregate). A draw then followed against Aberdeen as O’Neill lost his 100 per cent domestic record. Martindale now has 12 victories and two draws from his first 14 games.

Whatever happens next, few mission statements have delivered as prodigiously as the one Martindale made when he was appointed. “I spent a large part of my life growing up in Livingston and I can honestly say I will do everything in my power to continue to push, pull and cajole Livingston to keep on punching above our weight,” he said.

He has since passed an SFA fit and proper person test which threatened to derail these ambitions. Now nothing seems off the agenda.

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