Form, context and what the numbers say
Livingston welcome St. Mirren to the Tony Macaroni Arena on 20/01/2026 with both clubs carrying heavy baggage from recent results. Duncan Nicolson will take charge at a venue that holds 9,672, and the spotlight is on two teams desperately seeking momentum. Livingston sit 12th in the table with just 10 points from 21 games — one win, seven draws and thirteen defeats — and arrive here on an alarming sequence without victories. Their recent run reads as a procession of losses and stalemates, including a 1-1 cup stalemate with St. Mirren on 17 January that ended against them on penalties.
St. Mirren, marginally better placed in 10th with 18 points, also have a wobbly league campaign but show signs of greater resilience. Their last ten-match string includes three wins and a handful of draws — enough to offer a smidge of optimism ahead of this Premiership encounter. The cup clash between these sides produced a 1-1 scoreline which St. Mirren converted into progression through the drama of spot kicks; that result swings psychological advantage slightly in their favour.
Stats that matter for betting
Digging into the team metrics highlights why a goals-based market looks tempting. Livingston’s home outings have produced Both Teams To Score in roughly 64% of games, and St. Mirren have seen BTTS land in 75% of their away matches. Livingston have shipped 41 goals so far in the campaign and managed only 21 themselves; St. Mirren are no defensive fortress but have collected five clean sheets compared with Livingston’s solitary shutout. Shots and attacking indices favour St. Mirren overall — more total attempts and a higher average of dangerous attacks — suggesting they carry more threat on the road than their points tally implies.
Bookmakers peg the away side as slight favourites: away win quoted around 2.50, the draw 3.15 and home 2.84. Those prices underline an open game where a draw is a live possibility, but the statistical tilt toward mutual goals is clear.
Verdict and tactical read
This shapes up as a low-drama Premiership fixture that nonetheless should produce action at both ends. Livingston at home will try to be compact but have been leaky; St. Mirren travel with the confidence of recent cup success and a more balanced attacking output. Given the cup meeting’s 1-1 scoreline and the season-long BTTS trends for both teams in the relevant venues, expect an encounter where neither side can keep a clean sheet with certainty.
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Betting suggestion
Betting suggestion: Back Both Teams To Score — Yes. Rationale: strong BTTS percentages for Livingston at home and St. Mirren away, combined with recent 1-1 cup meeting and the scoring/defensive profiles provided, point to both sides finding the net. Stake cautiously and consider bankroll rules when sizing the wager.
