2019–20 Livingston F.C. season

The 2019–20 season was the club's second season in the Scottish Premiership, the top flight of Scottish football. Livingston also competed in the Scottish Cup and the League Cup.

Livingston
2019–20 season
ChairmanRobert Wilson
ManagerGary Holt
StadiumAlmondvale Stadium
Scottish PremiershipFifth place
Scottish League CupQuarter-finals, lost to Rangers
Scottish CupFifth Round, lost to Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Top goalscorerLeague: Dykes (9)
All: Dykes (11)
Highest home attendance8,643 vs Celtic
Lowest home attendance692 vs Berwick Rangers
Average home league attendance3,542

On 13 March, the Scottish football season was suspended with immediate effect due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak.[1] On 18 May, the SPFL declared the end of the season determining on an average points per game with Livi finishing in fifth place.[2][3]

Season Summary

Gary Holt remained as manager for the season. Livi started the season well by going nine matches unbeaten until they met Rangers in the League, with them also knocking Livi out of the League Cup. Then for the first time in their history Livi earned their maiden win against Celtic in the League.[4] They went on an eight match win-less League run but ended it with a win against Kilmarnock. Lyndon Dykes became the first Livi player to score a top-flight hat-trick against Ross County.[5] Livi were knocked out in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup by Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[6] Their away match at Rangers was postponed and rearranged 24 hours later by the SPFL due to Storm Dennis.[7] They moved up to fifth in the table before all football was suspended due to COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak. On 9 April, the Scottish football season was further suspended until at least 10 June.[8] Livi shortly after released a statement saying they would support a decision to finish the league early.[9] On 18 May, the SPFL finished the league.

Results & fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season

30 June 2019 Friendly[10] ŠKF Sereď 1 1 Livingston Budapest, Hungary
16:00 Kuzma  73' (pen.) Report Dykes  41'
3 July 2019 Friendly Paksi 1 0 Livingston Budapest, Hungary
16:00 Böde  28' Report
6 July 2019 Friendly Tranmere Rovers 1 2 Livingston St Andrews
15:00 Mullin  50' Report Pittman  45'
Menga  74'
Attendance: 0
Note: Match played behind closed doors
9 July 2019 Friendly Alloa Athletic 0 2 Livingston Indodrill Stadium
19:45 Report Dykes  13'
Miller  81'

Scottish Premiership

3 August 2019 1 Livingston 0 0 Motherwell Almondvale Stadium
15:00 BBC Report Attendance: 2,633
Referee: David Munro
10 August 2019 2 St Johnstone 2 2 Livingston McDiarmid Park
14:00 Kennedy  55'
Hendry  82'
BBC Report Lawless  13'
Pittman  39'
Attendance: 2,349
Referee: Andrew Dallas
24 August 2019 3 Ross County 1 4 Livingston Global Energy Stadium
15:00 Stewart  44' BBC Report Guthrie  3'
Lawless  14'
Dykes  26'
Stobbs  52'
Attendance: 4,237
Referee: John Beaton
31 August 2019 4 Livingston 2 1 St Mirren Almondvale Stadium
15:00 Lithgow  26'
Dykes  58'
Report Magennis  64' Attendance: 2,346
Referee: Colin Steven
14 September 2019 5 Rangers 3 1 Livingston Ibrox Stadium
15:00 Tavernier  55'
Morelos  71'
Barker  79'
Report Lawless  47' (pen.)
Dykes  50'  73'
Attendance: 48,793
Referee: Willie Collum
21 September 2019 6 Livingston 0 2 Aberdeen Almondvale Stadium
15:00 BST Jacobs  52'
Devlin  90+2'
Report Considine  29'
Cosgrove  90+3' (pen)
Attendance: 2,803
Referee: Nick Walsh
28 September 2019 7 Hamilton Academical 2 – 1 Livingston New Douglas Park
15:00 Alston  45+1'
Cunningham  84' (pen.)
Stubbs  90+1'
Report Lithgow  15'
Robinson  47'
Attendance: 1,075
Referee: Steven McLean
6 October 2019 8 Livingston 2 – 0 Celtic Almondvale Stadium
12:00 Robinson  47'
Dykes  73'
Report Christie  26' Attendance: 8,196
Referee: Willie Collum
Note: Game televised on Sky Sports Football
19 October 2019 9 Kilmarnock 2 – 1 Livingston Rugby Park
15:00 Dicker  39'
McKenzie  55'
Report Miller  84' Attendance: 4,828
Referee: Steven McLean
26 October 2019 10 Livingston 0 – 0 Heart of Midlothian Almondvale Stadium
15:00 Souda  49' Report Attendance: 3,854
Referee: Greg Aitken
30 October 2019 11 Hibernian 2 – 2 Livingston Easter Road
19:45 Allan  62' (pen.)
Boyle  90+2'
Report Lawless  38'
Sibbald  41'
Attendance: 14,662
Referee: Gavin Duncan
2 November 2019 12 Motherwell 2 – 1 Livingston Fir Park
15:00 Long  47'
Gallagher  52'
Campbell  83'
Report Guthrie  30'
Lawless  60' (pen.)  69'
Attendance: 4,423
Referee: Euan Anderson
10 November 2019 13 Livingston 0 − 2 Rangers Almondvale Stadium
15:00 McMillan  20'
Bartley  73'
Taylor-Sinclair  81'
Report Aribo  32'
Morelos  52'
Attendance: 8,071
Referee: Nick Walsh
Note: Game televised on Sky Sports Football
23 November 2019 14 Celtic 4 – 0 Livingston Celtic Park
Édouard  19'
Brown  57'  90+4'
Forrest  64', 90+1'
Report Dykes  44'
Tiffoney  80'
Attendance: 58,247
Referee: Andrew Dallas
30 November 2019 15 Livingston 0 − 0 Hamilton Academical Almondvale Stadium
15:00 Report Easton  76' Attendance: 1,076
Referee: William Collum
4 December 2019 16 Heart of Midlothian 1 – 1 Livingston Tynecastle Park
MacLean  88' Report Bartley  8'  33'
Pittman  49'
Robinson  55'
Guthrie  68'
Attendance: 14,681
Referee: Greg Aitken
7 December 2019 17 Livingston 3 − 0 Kilmarnock Almondvale Stadium
15:00 Guthrie  54'
Dykes  65'
Lawless  81'
Report McKenzie  27'
Power  86'
Attendance: 1,531
Referee: John Beaton
14 December 2019 18 St Mirren 3 – 3 Livingston St Mirren Park
Morias  33'
Obika  61', 73'
Flynn  71'
Report Souda  13', 56'
Lawson  26'
Guthrie  45'
Robinson  83'
Dykes  88'
Attendance: 4,344
Referee: Nick Walsh
21 December 2019 19 Livingston 4 − 0 Ross County Almondvale Stadium
15:00 Lamie  31'
Dykes  41', 50', 73'
Sibbald  60'
Report Attendance: 1,201
Referee: Colin Steven
26 December 2019 20 Aberdeen 2 − 1 Livingston Pittodrie Stadium
15:00 McLennan  13'
Taylor  85'
Anderson  81'
Report Dykes  86' Attendance: 14,518
Referee: Bobby Madden
29 December 2019 21 Livingston 2 − 0 Hibernian Almondvale Stadium
15:00 GMT Lawson  33'
Guthrie  62', 77'
Bartley  75'
Report Slivka  60' Attendance: 4,902
Referee: Euan Anderson
22 January 2020 22 Livingston 1 − 0 St. Johnstone Almondvale Stadium
McMillan  40'
Bartley  44'
Pittman  56'
Report Kane  80' Attendance: 1,140
Referee: Euan Anderson
25 January 2020 23 Hamilton Academical 2 – 4 Livingston New Douglas Park
15:00 Want  13'
Woods  57'
Fjørtoft  77'
Report Sibbald  15'
Taylor-Sinclair  32'
Lawless  62' (pen.)
Pittman  65'
Souda  71'
Attendance: 1,487
Referee: Bobby Madden
1 February 2020 24 Livingston 1 – 0 Motherwell Almondvale Stadium
15:00 Bartley  56'
Dykes  56'
Taylor-Sinclair  67'
Report Tait  70'
O'Hara  89'
Carroll  90+1'
Attendance: 1,932
Referee: John Beaton
5 February 2020 25 Ross County 2 – 0 Livingston Global Energy Stadium
19:45 McKay  2', 59' Report Attendance: 3,301
Referee: Nick Walsh
12 February 2020 26 Livingston 2 – 1 St Mirren Almondvale Stadium
19:45 Lawless  34' (pen)
Dykes  46'
Report Obika  50' Attendance: 1,263
Referee: David Munro
16 February 2020 27 Rangers 1 – 0 Livingston Ibrox Stadium
15:00 Arfield  59' Report Lawson  34'
Guthrie  43'
Crawford  68'
Attendance: 48,302
Referee: Euan Anderson
Note: Match was played 24 hours later than planned due to Storm Dennis
22 February 2020 28 Hibernian 1 – 1 Livingston Easter Road
15:00 Doidge  50' Report Taylor-Sinclair  56' Attendance: 15,553
Referee: Alan Newlands
4 March 2020 29 Livingston 2 – 2 Celtic Almondvale Stadium
Guthrie  24'
Robinson  46'
Report McGregor  16'
Rogic  90+1'
Attendance: 8,640
Referee: Willie Collum
7 March 2020 30 St Johnstone 1 – 0 Livingston McDiarmid Park
15:00 Hendry  84' Report Attendance: 3,008
Referee: Kevin Clancy
15 March 2020 31[N 1] Livingston Cancelled Heart of Midlothian Almondvale Stadium
15:00 Hearts News
21 March 2020 32[N 1] Livingston Cancelled Aberdeen Almondvale Stadium
15:00
4 April 2020 33[N 1] Kilmarnock Cancelled Livingston Rugby Park
15:00

League Cup

13 July 2019[11] Group Falkirk 1 1
(3–4 p)
Livingston Falkirk Stadium
15:00 Connolly  6'
Dixon  68'
Sammon  90'
BBC Report
Livi Report
Dykes  36' Attendance: 2,121
Referee: Alan Muir
Penalties
16 July 2019 Group Livingston 2 1 Ayr United Almondvale Stadium
19:45 Souda  25'
Lamie  83'
SPFL Report
Livi Report
Murdoch  51' Attendance: 1,097
Referee: Willie Collum
23 July 2019 Group Stranraer 1 2 Livingston Stair Park
19:45 McManus  48'
Elliott  57'
BBC Report Lawless  42' (pen.)
Souda  45'
Attendance: 402
Referee: Craig Napier
27 July 2019 Group Livingston 5 0 Berwick Rangers Almondvale Stadium
15:00 Lamie  2', 81'
Sibbald  16', 84'
Lithgow  24'
BBC Report Attendance: 692
Referee: Colin Steven
17 August 2019 Second round Forfar Athletic 1 2 Livingston Station Park
15:00 Hilson  63' BBC Report Dykes  34'
Pittman  53'
Attendance: 884
Referee: Gavin Duncan
25 September 2019[12] Quarter-final Livingston 0 1 Rangers Almondvale Stadium
19:45 Report Kamara  5' Attendance: 8,160
Referee: Don Robertson
Note: Game televised on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate

Scottish Cup

18 January 2020 Fourth Round Livingston 3 1 Raith Rovers Almondvale Stadium
15:00 GMT Lawless  77' (pen.), 90+1' (pen.)
Dykes  78'
Report Baird  22' Attendance: 1,725
Referee: Alan Newlands
8 February 2020 Fifth Round Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 0LivingstonCaledonian Stadium
15:01 GMT Welsh  61' Report Attendance: 1,512
Referee: Don Robertson

Squad statistics

Appearances

No. Pos Nat Player TotalPremiershipLeague CupScottish Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Robby McCrorie 70700000
2 DF Nicky Devlin 1601105000
3 DF Ciaron Brown 110900020
4 DF Alan Lithgow 1739+325100
5 DF Ricki Lamie 30419+316320
6 MF Marvin Bartley 36127+116020
7 MF Keaghan Jacobs 29014+1003+1010
8 MF Scott Pittman 3042335120
9 FW Lyndon Dykes 33112596220
10 MF Craig Sibbald 21414+42121+10
11 MF Steven Lawless 37829+185020
14 DF Hakeem Odoffin 703+400000
15 DF Cécé Pepe 600+203+1000
16 MF Robbie Crawford 25013+704+1000
17 MF Scott Robinson 27213+921+200+20
19 FW Chris Erskine 1403+700+300+10
20 FW Aymen Souda 25411+625+1220
21 DF Jack McMillan 25019+20300+10
24 FW Dolly Menga 400+30000+10
25 DF Efe Ambrose 30300000
27 DF Jon Guthrie 3262862020
29 DF Aaron Taylor-Sinclair 14312+230000
31 GK Ryan Schofield 30100020
33 DF Steve Lawson 20011+600+1020
40 GK Gary Maley 00000000
Players who left the club during the season
1 GK Ross Stewart 90702000
12 MF Cameron Blues 00000000
18 FW Lee Miller 510+310+2000
22 MF Scott Tiffoney 1101+700+3000
23 MF Raffaele De Vita 00000000
29 DF Ibrahima Savane 200+100+1000
30 GK Matija Sarkic 1801404000
31 MF Jack Stobbs 412+210000
37 MF Craig Henderson 00000000

Team statistics

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
3 Motherwell 30 14 4 12 41 38 +3 46 1.53 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round
4 Aberdeen 30 12 9 9 40 36 +4 45 1.50
5 Livingston 30 10 9 11 41 39 +2 39 1.30
6 St Johnstone 29 8 12 9 28 46 18 36 1.24
7 Hibernian 30 9 10 11 42 49 7 37 1.23
Source: BBC SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points per game; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-Head points; 5) Head-to-Head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only if deciding champion, UEFA competitions qualification, second stage group allocation or relegation).[14]
Notes:
  1. All play-off matches were cancelled, as clubs voted to curtail the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]

League cup table

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LIV AYR FAL STR BER
1 Livingston 4 3 1 0 0 10 3 +7 11 Qualification for the Second Round 2–1 5–0
2 Ayr United 4 2 0 1 1 12 5 +7 7 2–1 2–2p
3 Falkirk 4 2 0 1 1 6 3 +3 7 1–1p 1–0
4 Stranraer 4 1 1 0 2 9 5 +4 5 1–2 6–0
5 Berwick Rangers 4 0 0 0 4 0 21 21 0 0–7 0–3
Source: [15]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[16]

Transfers

Transfers In

Date Position Name Previous Club Fee Ref
11 Jun 2019 DF Cécé Pepe Rieti Free [17]
15 Jun 2019 MF Robbie Crawford Ayr United Free [18]
26 Jun 2019 GK Matija Sarkic Aston Villa Six-month Loan [19]
1 Jul 2019 DF Nicky Devlin Walsall Free [20]
16 Jul 2019 DF Ibrahima Savane Béziers Free [21]
20 Jul 2019 FW Aymen Souda FC Dunărea Călărași Free [22]
12 Aug 2019 DF Jon Guthrie Walsall Free [23]
20 Aug 2019 MF Jack Stobbs Sheffield Wednesday Six-month Loan [24]
6 Nov 2019 DF Aaron Taylor-Sinclair Motherwell Free [25]
8 Jan 2020 GK Ryan Schofield Huddersfield Town Six-month Loan [26]
8 Jan 2020 DF Ciaron Brown Cardiff City Six-month Loan [26]
21 Jan 2020 GK Robby McCrorie Rangers Loan [27]
18 Feb 2020 DF Efe Ambrose Derby County Free [28]

Transfers Out

Date Position Name Subsequent Club Fee Ref.
14 Jun 2019 GK Liam Kelly Queens Park Rangers Undisclosed [29]
18 Jun 2019 MF Shaun Byrne Dundee Undisclosed [30]
19 Jun 2019 MF Nicky Cadden Greenock Morton Free [31]
27 Jun 2019 MF Carlo Pignatiello Stranraer Season Loan [32]
1 Jul 2019 DF Callum Crane Edinburgh City Free [33]
1 Jul 2019 GK Jordan Pettigrew Dumbarton Free [34]
1 Jul 2019 FW Jack Hamilton Queen of the South Season Loan [35]
1 Jul 2019 DF Declan Gallagher Motherwell Free [36]
1 Jul 2019 DF Craig Halkett Heart of Midlothian Free [37]
7 Jul 2019 DF Cameron Clark Queen's Park Free [38]
12 Jul 2019 FW Matthew Knox Brechin City Free [39]
18 Jul 2019 FW Raffaele De Vita Partick Thistle Six-month Loan [40]
18 Jul 2019 FW Dolly Menga Atlético Petróleos de Luanda Six-month Loan [41]
26 Jul 2019 DF Henk van Schaik Greenock Morton Undisclosed [42]
6 Sep 2019 MF Cameron Blues Greenock Morton Free [42][43]
19 Nov 2019 FW Lee Miller Falkirk Free [44]
1 Jan 2020 FW Raffaele De Vita Falkirk Six-month Loan [45]
4 Jan 2020 FW Gregg Wylde Clyde Free [46]
23 Jan 2020 GK Ross Stewart Queen of the South Loan [47]
30 Jan 2020 MF Scott Tiffoney Ayr United Loan [48]
31 Jan 2020 DF Ibrahima Savane Avranches Free [25][49]

See also

List of Livingston F.C. seasons

Footnotes

  1. Match cancelled due to Coronavirus outbreak

References

  1. "Coronavirus – Joint Response Group Update". SPFL. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  2. "Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season". BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52710499
  4. https://livingstonfc.co.uk/livingston-2-0-celtic/
  5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50791601
  6. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51337078
  7. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51507044
  8. "Scottish football season suspended until 10 June". BBC Sport. 9 April 2020.
  9. https://livingstonfc.co.uk/livingston-football-club-statement-spfl-resolution/
  10. https://livingstonfc.co.uk/preseason-fixtures-2019/
  11. "Betfred Cup group stage fixtures". SPFL. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
  12. https://spfl.co.uk/news/betfred-cup-quarter-final-details
  13. "Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles and reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote". BBC Sport. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  14. "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  15. "Summary - League Cup Group G". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  16. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  17. "Cece Franck Pepe: Livingston boss Gary Holt recruits defender". 2019-06-11. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  18. "Robbie Crawford: Livingston sign midfielder from Ayr United". 2019-06-15. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  19. "Matija Sarkic: Livingston sign Aston Villa goalkeeper on loan". 2019-06-26. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  20. "Nicky Devlin: Livingston sign right-back after he rejects new Walsall deal". 2019-06-08. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  21. "Livingston: Ibrahima Savane joins on two-year deal". 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  22. admin (2019-07-10). "New striker checks in". Livingston Football Club. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  23. "Welcome Jon Guthrie". livingstonfc.co.uk. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  24. "Jack Stobbs: Livingston land winger on loan from Sheffield Wednesday". 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  25. "Livingston: Aaron Taylor-Sinclair signs as Ibrahima Savane leaves". BBC Sport. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  26. "Livingston sign Cardiff's Ciaron Brown and Huddersfield's Ryan Schofield on loan". BBC Sport. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  27. "Rangers' Robby McCrorie joins Livingston after Queen of the South recall". BBC Sport. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  28. Temple, Alan (18 February 2020). "Efe Ambrose joins Livingston - and could make debut against Hibs". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  29. "Liam Kelly joins QPR". QPR. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  30. "Shaun signs". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 2019-06-18. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  31. "BREAKING | Nicky Cadden signs for Morton – Greenock Morton". Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  32. "Livi prospect signs". www.stranraerfc.org. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  33. "Edinburgh City sign ex-Hibs defender Callum Crane from Livingston". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  34. "Dumbarton Football Club - SIGNING NEWS: NEW KEEPER JOINS". www.dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  35. "QosFC: Jack Hamilton". www.qosfc.com. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  36. "Motherwell: Declan Gallagher to sign from Livingston". 2019-04-11. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  37. "Hearts: Livingston's Craig Halkett signs pre-contract to switch on three-year deal". 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  38. "Out of contract & inspired by Andy Robertson - how do players find a club?". 2019-07-07. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  39. Mew, Steven (11 July 2019). "Matthew Knox Signs". Brechin City F.C. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  40. "Raffaele De Vita – on loan from Livingston". Partick Thistle FC. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  41. "Le Petro de Luanda recrute Dolly Menga et Jacques Tuyisenge". TV5 Sports (in French). 2019-07-18. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  42. "BREAKING | Van Schaik and Blues Sign For Morton – Greenock Morton". Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  43. Telegraph, Greenock (6 September 2019). "Blues given permanent deal". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  44. "LEE MILLER & DAVID McCRACKEN APPOINTED INTERIM COACHING TEAM". Falkirk FC. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  45. "Falkirk: Livingston's Raffaele De Vita joins on loan". BBC Sport. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  46. MacLean, Ian (4 January 2020). "Ex-Rangers winger Gregg Wylde signs for Clyde". Cumbernauld News. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  47. https://qosfc.com/news-4904
  48. Wilson, Stuart (30 January 2020). "Livingston striker Scott Tiffoney: Ayr United old boys sold me on loan move to Somerset Park". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  49. "Mercato. Ibrahima Savane rejoint l'US Avranches" (in French). Ouest France. 30 January 2020.
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