'Livingston capable of surviving despite being winless since August'

It's unlikely to be a merry Christmas at Livingston this festive season. Bottom of the Scottish Premiership is not a comfortable place to be when Santa comes calling.

The West Lothian side's long wait for a victory of any kind now stretches back over four months after defeat at St Mirren on Saturday.

It was matchday two of the season when things last looked rosy in the garden after four points were harvested from the first six available.

That only five more have been added in the 15 subsequent fixtures has manager David Martindale questioning himself.

His side are bottom, albeit only three adrift and with a game in hand, and will welcome several new players in an attempt to avoid a relegation dogfight.

"I've got to look at myself before I start digging out players," Martindale said.

The other thing the manager is happy to do is ask some searching questions.

"Did I feel we'd go through periods without a win? Of course I did. It's how the Premiership works, when you're one of the smaller clubs. Did I think it would be as long as it has been? No, I'll be honest with you.

"Do I feel our points reflect performances? I don't. I think we should be sitting with more but we're not.

"We've got to look at the group. I'm the leader of that group so I've got to take the blame. I do feel I've underperformed in terms of the points return in comparison to performances but I can't keep saying that."

Martindale won't disclose the identities of the two new players already signed and ready to help come the turn of the year, when the transfer window officially opens.

What is clear is, after a game in which Livingston were competitive but St Mirren made more chances, is that extra competition for places up front is key.

Despite their poor run of form, they're not yet cut adrift, having played a game fewer than Kilmarnock and Dundee, who are just three and four points better off.

"We're going to need reinforcements," Martindale added. "There's two in the building already but we're going to have to go out and get more to try and make sure we stay in the league, which I think we're capable of doing."

"Those two are there but there's probably going to be another three or four. It's not always easy in January. You've got to bring in players that are going to have an impact now, that have not got that adaptation period. That's the difficult part."

Martindale's message is clear: he's confident his side, with a fresh injection of talent, can still survive the drop. But time is starting to run out. And fast.