Bartley tells Livi to focus on three points as relegation looms

Marvin Bartley insists Livingston's focus will be only on three points when they travel to St Mirren on Saturday with relegation staring them in the face.

With five post-split Premiership fixtures remaining, Livi are bottom of the table, 12 points behind Kilmarnock and 14 behind the Buddies.

The West Lothian side, who have only one league win this season, could find themselves relegated this weekend if results do not go their way but manager Bartley stressed the need to keep fighting.

He said: "We definitely understand the situation we're in. The boys and the staff and I understand that. You have to go and play the 90 minutes.

"I think if you start thinking of permutations of what could happen, it adds pressure. We're already in a real difficult position, which we understand.

"So we have to go and put our best foot forward and like I said, we understand the pressure and the permutations of things.

"But we'll just be playing the 90 minutes, not worrying about anything else. Focus on what you can control which is the game against St Mirren.

"In terms of pressure, I was very strange in a sense where I enjoyed the pressure. I would say to the players to thrive underneath it.

"There's a lot bigger pressures in life than you feel as a footballer, going out there to fight for three points is a privileged position.

"That's what I'll be saying to my players because it's only natural that you're going feel some sort of pressure and some sort of nerves.

"It's about putting that into a positive energy in way it can help you perform, rather than fearing it."

[BBC]