Livingston will be looking to end a three-game losing run in the Scottish Premiership when they welcome Motherwell to the Toni Macaroni Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Lions have only lost two of their last nine league games on home soil, while the Steelmen are yet to win away from home in 2022.
Match preview
After accumulating 11 points from a five-match unbeaten run between February 5 and March 2, Livingston have since lost their last three games, including last weekend's 1-0 defeat away at St Johnstone.
Callum Hendry's converted penalty in the third minute was enough for the Saints to condemn the Lions to their 15th league defeat of the season.
David Martindale's men now need to beat Motherwell on Saturday if they wish to climb into the top six before the league splits in two next week. Livingston currently sit eighth in the Premiership table, one point behind Hibernian in sixth and three points behind Dundee United in fourth.
The Lions, however, have struggled in recent meetings with the Steelmen as they have only won one of their last 10 games against them, securing a 1-0 victory in February 2020.
Motherwell ended their miserable 11-game winless league run with a 4-2 victory at home against St Mirren last weekend.
An entertaining first 45 minutes saw five goals scored, with Sean Goss, Connor Shields and Dean Cornelius all on the scoresheet for the Steelmen, the latter finding the net on the stroke of half time to put the hosts in front.
A 78th-minute own goal from St Mirren's Richard Tait then gave Motherwell a two-goal cushion and they eventually held on for all three points, securing their first victory in 2022.
That result helped Graham Alexander's side climb up to fifth in the Premiership table, just one point behind Dundee United in fourth.
Motherwell have failed to win any of their last nine away games, but they have beaten Saturday's opponents Livingston in each of their last four meetings, including both encounters earlier this season by a 2-1 scoreline.
- D
- W
- W
- L
- L
- L
- D
- L
- D
- L
- L
- W
Team News
Livingston's top goalscorer Bruce Anderson, who has 11 league strikes to his name this term, is set to remain sidelined with an ankle injury, but Martindale is hopeful that the 23-year-old will return before the end of the season.
Joel Nouble is the most likely candidate to start as the central striker, with Alan Forrest and Odin Bailey providing support on the flanks.
Stephane Omeonga, Jason Holt and Scott Pittman have all started each of the last eight games together in midfield, and they are set to retain their places in the first XI on Saturday.
As for Motherwell, their only injury concern is with midfielder Barry Maguire, who is ruled out for the rest of the season with a muscle injury.
After last week's victory, Alexander is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup, but the likes of Jake Carroll, Liam Donnelly and Mark O'Hara will all be hoping to force their way into the first XI after starting on the bench last time out.
Livingston possible starting lineup:
Stryjek; Devlin, Fitzwater, Obileye, Penrice; Holt, Pittman, Omeonga; Forrest, Nouble, Bailey
Motherwell possible starting lineup:
Kelly; O'Donnell, Mugabi, Johansen, Carroll; Cornelius, Slattery, Goss; Shields, Van Veen, Efford
We say: Livingston 1-2 Motherwell
The momentum now seems to be with Motherwell heading into Saturday's contest, and considering their recent results against Livingston, the Steelmen will be confident of success in West Lothian.
With Anderson set to miss out, the Lions may struggle to pose a threat in the final third, and so we feel that the visitors will do enough to claim all three points.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
