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David Martindale urges Livingston to consign cup defeat to history

Livingston were beaten in the Betfred Cup final by St Johnstone on Sunday.

Livingston manager David Martindale has urged his players to use their Hampden pain to propel them forward.

Martindale was already beginning the process of moving on from their Betfred Cup final disappointment on the pitch of the national stadium.

The 46-year-old will learn lessons from Sunday’s defeat by St Johnstone but he vowed to put it behind him quickly.

There is an immediate chance to do that on Wednesday when Livi host Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers, who are only seven points away from clinching the title.

But Livi have their own target to achieve as they look to secure a top-six place.

They have a five-point cushion on seventh-placed Dundee United with two games in hand and Martindale wants to focus on removing any doubt about their post-split destiny.

“We can’t dwell on it, we have to look forward to Wednesday night now,” he said. “As much as it hurts just now, we have got to use that as fuel going forward.

“If you can’t take that on the chin, if you can’t self-reflect, if you can’t use that as motivation going forward, I don’t think you should be in Premiership football.

“I will definitely do that. We need to use it as fuel to kick on and try to secure top six as early as possible.

“We started on that process on the park. The quicker we get it out of the system the better. We can’t let that overhang and affect the rest of the season. It can’t define the rest of the season.

“I will look at the game back and see what I could have done better: did I pick the wrong formation? Did I pick the wrong players in the formation? I will self-reflect because it’s the only way you are going to improve.

“I have been through bigger disappointments in life than this and I will definitely get through this one.”

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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