Livingston face a basement battle with fellow-strugglers, Dundee, at The Home of the Set Fare Arena on Saturday (15.00), and the stakes are high.
The West Lothian club currently prop up the rest of the 12-strong William Hill Premiership with eight points from 15 fixtures, four behind Dundee and Kilmarnock who have both played a game more.
St Mirren are in ninth position with 14 points from 15 games with Dundee United in eighth spot on 16 points also after 15 league fixtures.
David Martindale’s men therefore cannot afford to the gap between them and the clubs above them to grow, particularly coming into the Festive period.
Scoring goals has been an issue. Livi have netted on 15 occasions and conceded 29 for a goal difference total of minus 14.
Dundee, who beat Livingston 3-2 on Tayside on September 20, have scored only 13 goals, the lowest total in the league, and also let-in 29 goals for a goal difference tally of minus 16.
Both sides go into the clash on a downer, Livingston lost 3-0 at Motherwell while Dundee were edged 3-1 at Dens Park by Aberdeen.
However, Livingston have not won since August 9, a 3-1 victory over newly-promoted Falkirk, their only success so far in the league this term, while Dundee have picked up points against big name clubs, drawing with Rangers at Ibrox and beating champions Celtic 2-0 on Tayside.
Their manager, ex-Hearts defender, Steven Presley, indicated at his midweek press briefing that the side are producing crosses during games and getting into good positions but failing at what he called “the final moment”.
He added: “We need to have more desire when we’re arriving in the box.”
Former Burnley striker Joe Westley is now sidelined for around two months through ankle ligament damage, a problem picked up against Aberdeen, and a blow for the manager who challenged other players to step forward and contribute goals.
Ex-Ross County and Hearts midfielder, Yan Dhanda, is a doubt with a foot injury and another midfield player, Callum Jones, born in Birkenhead but a Welsh international, is another question mark ahead of the trip.
The under-pressure Dens boss is leaving nothing to chance ahead of the crucial clash and his men have been training this week on an artificial pitch in a bid to replicate, as far as possible, the surface at Almondvale.
His counterpart, Martindale, has been boosted as two experienced players available for selection, former Dundee midfielder, French-born, Mo Sylla, and Aussie defender Ryan McGowan (pictured), the club captain, who spent three weeks in hospital with a worrying leg infection. Both had game time against Motherwell last weekend.
