David Martindale Critiques Livingston's 'Ridiculous' Game Management In Recent Defeat

Livingston's manager, David Martindale, expressed his frustration over his team's defeat in a recent match against Ross County, highlighting what he deemed as poor game management. The cinch Premiership encounter saw Livingston fall short in a dramatic 3-2 loss, leaving them six points behind at the bottom of the table. Despite a commendable comeback from Livingston, with Bruce Anderson scoring twice to level the game, Josh Sims' stoppage-time goal sealed the win for Ross County.

Martindale criticized his team's performance, particularly pointing out the errors that led to their defeat. He described the approach to the third goal conceded as "ridiculous" and "terrible," reflecting on the first half's lack of aggression and proximity between players. Martindale attributed the first goal to a blatant error due to a lack of focus, which he believed shifted momentum towards Ross County and dented Livingston's confidence. The second goal was conceded due to not marking Eamonn Brophy tightly enough, allowing him too much space.

In response to being 2-0 down at half-time, Livingston adjusted their formation to 4-4-2 and introduced Bruce Anderson, which paid off as Anderson scored twice. Despite the comeback, Martindale admitted that perhaps reverting to a more defensive setup could have secured them a point, a decision he ultimately did not make.

On the other side, Ross County's interim manager, Don Cowie, praised his team's resilience and character. Cowie acknowledged the difficulty his team faced after Livingston's equalizer but was pleased with how they managed to find a winning goal. He highlighted the first-half performance as very good and believed they deserved their 2-0 lead at that point.

Cowie expressed his delight for the team and emphasized the character within the dressing room, which he felt was evident in their ability to secure victory even when it seemed likely that Livingston would take the lead.

The match not only showcased a thrilling encounter between Livingston and Ross County but also highlighted the tactical decisions and game management that influenced the outcome. As Livingston looks to recover from this setback, Ross County will aim to build on this victory, demonstrating the competitive nature of the cinch Premiership.