“Livingston is able to survive despite not having won since August.”

“Do I feel like our points reflect the performance? I don’t think so. I think we should be sitting with more but we’re not.”

“We have to look at the group. I’m the leader of that group so I have to take the blame. I feel like my performance was poor in terms of points compared to performance but I can’t keep saying that.”

Martindale will not reveal the identity of the two new players already signed and ready to help at the start of the year, when the transfer window officially opens.

What is clear is that after a game in which Livingston were competitive but St Mirren created more chances, additional competition for attacking positions is key.

Despite their poor form, they are not far behind, having played a game less than Kilmarnock and Dundee, who are only three and four points clear.

“We’ll need reinforcements,” Martindale added. “There are two in the building already but we will have to go out and do more to try and make sure we stay in the league, which I think we are capable of doing.”

“Those two players are there but there will probably be three or four more. It’s not always easy in January. You have to bring in players who are going to make an impact now, who haven’t had that adjustment period. That’s the difficult part.”

Martindale’s message is clear: he is confident that his team, with a new batch of talent, can still survive relegation. But time is running out. And fast.