Livingston battle to rare victory over St Mirren to earn lifeline

Bottom side Livingston battled for a slim William Hill Premiership lifeline with a 2-0 win at St Mirren.

The Buddies’ emergency keeper Ross Sinclair was making his first start of the season but it was Livi number one Jerome Prior who made several saves in a first half dominated by Saints.

The visitors improved after the break and in the 67th minute they forced themselves ahead through an Alex Gogic own goal.

A strike from substitute Scott Pittman in the 80th minute sealed three points, and only Livi’s second league victory of the season since beating Falkirk on August 9.

Kilmarnock’s 1-0 defeat at Aberdeen means Marvin Bartley’s battling Lions moved nine points behind Killie with four post-split fixtures remaining, while St Mirren are still only two points ahead of the Rugby Park club, who are in the relegation play-off zone.

Sinclair was recruited from St Johnstone on a seven-day loan after Ryan Mullan picked up an injury which requires surgery in last weekend’s 6-2 Scottish Gas Scottish Cup defeat by Celtic at Barclays Hampden.

With regular number one Shamal George also out injured, he had to be replaced by 17-year-old debutant Grant Tamosevicius, who this week signed a new deal until 2029.

In a high-energy start, Sinclair clawed away a curling shot from Joel Nouble in the seventh minute and he caught a header from Brooklyn Kabongolo moments later.

A hard-fought game continued but in the 27th minute Prior made a fine save from Jonah Ayunga’s powerful drive from 16 yards and punched away the corner which Livi survived.

In the 36th minute, after Allan Campbell’s cross from the left had caught out the Livingston defence, Prior brilliantly saved a close-range shot from Richard King and the ball was cleared to safety.

The West Lothian keeper ended the half blocking a header at the back post from Mikael Mandron and then a shot from Declan John.

In the 56th minute, a dejected Ayunga was taken away on a stretcher after a lengthy spell of treatment and was replaced by Jake Young, with Roland Idowu on for King.

There was soon more trouble for the Paisley side when, following a swift counter-attack, substitute Robbie Muirhead’s drive across goal was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Gogic, with VAR clearing a check for offside.

The game swung wildly in the final stages but it swayed firmly towards Livingston on another impressive attack, when the on-rushing Pittman fired in from 12 yards after being set up by fellow substitute Macaulay Tait, leaving St Mirren stunned.

As the game edged into nine added minutes, Saints captain Mark O’Hara struck woodwork from 20 yards but Livingston held out, desperately at times, for a long-awaited win.