Preview: Livingston vs. Hamilton Academical - prediction, team news, lineups

Livingston head into their Scottish Premiership encounter with Hamilton Academical on Wednesday, hoping to avoid losing successive league matches for the first time since October.

Meanwhile, the Accies could move off the bottom of the table if they were to claim their second victory of the season at the Toni Macaroni Arena.

Match preview

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Livingston's 14-match unbeaten run came to an end last weekend as they lost 2-1 at home to St Johnstone.

Despite Scott Pittman pulling one back for the hosts with seven minutes left to play, the Lions were unable to snatch a late equaliser, which saw manager David Martindale taste his first defeat in charge.

That result sees Livingston remain in fifth place, five points behind Aberdeen who currently occupy the final European spot, and with 11 league games still to play, the Lions will fancy their chances of breaking into the top four.

Livingston have faced Hamilton twice already this campaign, winning their most recent encounter 2-0 away from home in December, however they did suffer a 2-1 defeat against the Accies at the Toni Macaroni Arena in September.

Martindale will hope that his side can repeat their December performance and result as they look to bounce back from the blip at St Johnstone with their 12th victory of the season.

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Hamilton surprised everyone last Sunday as they came from behind to earn a hard-fought 1-1 draw against league leaders Rangers.

It looked as if the Gers were to take all three points when Brian Easton put the ball into his own net 10 minutes from time, however the Accies pushed Steven Gerrard's side to the very end with Ross Callachan scoring a 94th-minute equaliser to snatch a precious point.

Head coach Brian Rice was delighted with his side's "top-class performance", a vast improvement from their showing at Ibrox in November when they were thrashed 8-0.

The point earned still keeps Hamilton at the foot of the table, although the deficit to Ross County, who are one place above them, has been trimmed back to three points and the Accies have two games in hand.

Hamilton, who have failed to score in five of their last seven visits to Livingston, could move two points behind ninth-placed Motherwell with a victory on Wednesday, a team they face next weekend.

Livingston Scottish Premiership form: DDWDWL
Livingston form (all competitions): DWWDWL

Hamilton Academical Scottish Premiership form: WLDLLD

Team News

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Livingston are still without Keaghan Jacobs (foot) and Alan Lithgow (hip), who are both injured, but otherwise David Martindale has a full squad to pick from.

Defender Jack Fitzwater, who returned to the bench for the match with St Johnstone, could be in contention to start ahead of Efe Ambrose at centre-back.

Hamilton's David Templeton (groin), Lewis Smith (hamstring) and Shaun Want (thigh) all remain out with injuries.

Midfielder Will Collar, who made just seven appearances for the Accies this campaign, has left the club and joined National League side Stockport County on a free transfer.

Ryan Fulton, who signed a new two-year deal with the Accies last weekend, is set to remain in goal, while striker Bruce Anderson could keep his place in the starting lineup ahead of David Moyo and Andrew Winter.

Livingston possible starting lineup:
Stryjek; Devlin, Ambrose, Guthrie, Serrano; Bartley, Holt; Pittman, Sibbald, Robinson; Emmanuel-Thomas

Hamilton Academical possible starting lineup:
Fulton; Hamilton, A. Martin, Easton; Hodson, Odoffin, Hughes, Callachan, McMann; Anderson, Ogkmpoe

We say: Livingston 2-2 Hamilton Academical

Both sides will be looking to claim all three points and move closer to their contrasting end of season targets.

A European spot is in sight for Livingston but they must get back to winning ways quickly if they are to sneak in front of Aberdeen, while a win for Hamilton could bring as many as six teams into a relegation battle at the bottom.

Even though both sides will have confidence heading into Wednesday's fixture, a score draw could be on the cards.