Livingston will be looking to put successive defeats behind them when they host St Mirren at the Tony Macaroni Arena in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night.
Only a point separates the two sides heading into this clash, with the league table relatively tight as the season approaches 2023 and its business end.
Match preview
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Livingstone were three games unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership as domestic football entered its month-long hiatus for the World Cup, but unfortunately for them since returning, their results have not been as kind.
A return to action at Celtic Park against Ange Postecoglou's league leaders was always a game that would likely end in defeat - and so it did by a narrow 2-1 scoreline - but David Martindale will be more concerned by the 4-0 loss suffered last time out away to Hibernian.
Although a 15th-minute Jason Holt red card did not help matters, Livingstone performed below-par to be four goals down within just 50 minutes and were lucky not to lose by an even greater margin at an Easter Road Stadium that was fully in the festive spirit.
Back-to-back defeats have left Martindale's men eighth in the league standings having collected 23 points from their opening 17 matches, meaning despite poor results of late Livingston still have a fighting chance of finishing inside the top six this season.
It would be a real achievement for the club to earn a top-half berth this season, but they may need to increase their attacking output to do so, with only strugglers Ross County and Kilmarnock having scored fewer goals so far this campaign.
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St Mirren had to wait a little longer than their hosts on Wednesday to return to competitive action after the World Cup but quickly found their stride, beating third-placed Aberdeen 3-1 at The SMISA Stadium.
Although it is right to give Steve Robinson's side credit for earning a maximum, Aberdeen did have a calamitous afternoon which included a red card for 30-year-old Anthony Stewart as well as Kelle Roos being nowhere near his goal in order to stop Greg Kiltie scoring his side's third of the match.
The Saints are now three games unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership and have shown their ability to match the best sides in the division so far this campaign, holding Rangers to a 1-1 draw just before the international break and handing Celtic their only loss to date back in September.
St Mirren's struggles have mostly been endured away from home, with Robinson's men collecting just three points from six outings in the league, a record that is severely hindering their chances of finishing in the top half during the regular season.
The visitors on Wednesday will take confidence from the fact that they are currently seven games unbeaten against Livingston in all competitions, although that last defeat was a significant one, a 1-0 loss in the League Cup semi-final in January 2021.
Team News
Livingston will be without midfielder Holt after the 29-year-old was sent off in the defeat at Hibernian, with Belgian Stephane Omeonga a likely candidate to replace him in the starting XI.
Martindale will be unable to call on the services of both Jamie Brandon and Tom Parkes due to their groin and knee issues respectively, so Livingston may be forced to name a similar starting lineup to the one that disappointed on Christmas Eve.
St Mirren also have a groin injury in their ranks, with veteran left-back Richard Tait still sidelined after suffering a knock during his side's 3-0 defeat to Hibernian in late October.
Ethan Erhahon was replaced during the half-time break by goalscorer Kiltie last time out, and the 21-year-old could lose this place in the starting XI for the trip to Livingston.
Livingston possible starting lineup:
Konovalov; Devlin, Obileye, Fitzwater, Montano; Omeonga, Pittman, Shinnie; Bahamboula, Anderson, Kelly
St Mirren possible starting lineup:
Carson; Fraser, Gallagher, Dunne; Strain, Baccus, Kiltie, O'Hara, Tanser; Ayunga, Main
We say: Livingston 1-0 St Mirren
Livingston are coming into this game off the back of one of their poorest results of the season, so expect a big reaction on Wednesday night in front of their home supporters.
St Mirren took advantage of a comical performance from Aberdeen last time out but are unlikely to record back-to-back wins when considering their woeful away record.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
