MATCH REPORT | Saints 1-1 Livingston

Livi took the lead on 37 minutes when Andrew Shinnie hooked home from close range after captain Michael Devlin had headed on a Sean Kelly corner.

It was a scrappy contest filled with stoppages as the visitors tried to slow the game down. However, Saints got the equaliser on 87 minutes when Clark headed a Graham Carey cross to earn Saints a point.

Today’s result sees Saints leapfrog Aberdeen into ninth in the cinch Premiership with 28 points.

Next up for Saints is a trip to the Champions Celtic in a fortnight, kick off 3pm.  

MATCH REPORT

Saints welcomed Livingston to a sunny McDiarmid Park this afternoon for a cinch Premiership match as the Perth side looked to build on Wednesday’s 2-0 win at Aberdeen. There were no changes to the Saints starting eleven this afternoon as Craig Levein elected to go with the same starting eleven which started at Pittodrie in midweek whilst Adama Sidibeh made a welcome return to the bench. Livingston manager David Martindale made three changes to the starting eleven which started Wednesday’s 3-1 home defeat to Motherwell as Jamie Brandon, Joel Nouble and Bruce Anderson dropped to the bench and they were replaced by Cristian Montaño, Michael Devlin and Andrew Shinnie.

Andrew Shinnie got the match underway for Livingston however, it was an edgy opening to the match.

On 13 minutes, great play by Luke Robinson saw him nip in to win the ball from Daniel Mackay before breaking down the left channel and sending over a cross which was turned behind for a corner by Mackay who had got back to make amends.

The visitors were awarded a free kick on 20 minutes when Tete Yengi was fouled by Robinson. Sean Kelly took the free kick as he curled a delivery into the box but Dimitar Mitov was alert to the danger as he came off his line to comfortably gather the ball.

PHOTO: Dan Phillips gets away from Andrew Shinnie

Slack play by Dan Phillips 5 minutes later saw Mackay gather the ball as he broke into the box however, Ryan McGowan made a good block to deny the on-loan Hibs midfielder as Saints cleared their lines.

The first booking of the game came on 31 minutes as Robinson was shown a yellow card for a foul on Mackay. Sean Kelly sent the resultant free kick into the box from the right and Ayo Obileye failed to make a connection with it as Sven Sprangler collided with the post as he cleared the ball and play was halted as the midfielder received treatment.

The breakthrough came on 37 minutes as Livingston took the lead. Sean Kelly’s corner from the left found Michael Devlin and the Livi captain powered a header goal wards before Shinnie turned the ball home from close range, hooking the ball over his shoulder and beyond Mitov from 6 yards.

8 minutes of additional time were added on at the end of the first half and halfway through stoppage time Saints were forced to make a change as Graham Carey came on to replace the injured Dialling Jaiyesimi. Just before Chris Graham blew his whistle for half time Saints created one final chance as Matt Smith’s cross from the left was met by Nicky Clark however, his header from the centre of the box was straight at Shamal George who comfortably gathered the ball.

PHOTO: Nicky Clark's header is saved by Shamal George

On 52 minutes Mitov made a great save to deny Mackay and the Bulgarian keeper was up quick to save the follow-up effort from Cristian Montaño.

Saints made a double change on 56 minutes as Andy Considine and Stevie May came on to replace Liam Gordon and Benji Kimpioka.

Saints continued to push for an equaliser and just before the hour mark Matt Smith’s flicked effort from the edge of the box didn’t trouble George. Then a good passing move on 64 minutes saw David Keltjens send over an inviting ball into the box which May was inches away from connecting with as Michael Nottingham turned the ball behind for a corner.

PHOTO: Kurtis Guthrie loses out to Ryan McGowan and David Keltjens

Saints were sending crosses into the box as they continued to press forward however, no one in a Saints shirt could get on the end of the deliveries as the Livi defence mopped up the pressure.

On 77 minutes Considine gifted the ball to substitute Kurtis Guthrie and the forward broke up field before dragging his angled effort wide.

Saints then made another change as Adama Sidibeh came on to replace Matt Smith.

The Gambian forward was quickly involved in the action. A long ball forward by Carey on 83 minutes played in the forward who broke into the box but George was out quick to block.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh is denied by Shamal George

Livi continued to slow the match down as they tried to see the game out however, Saints eventually got the leveller with 3 minutes remaining.  Carey sent a pinpoint delivery into the box and Clark headed home the equaliser into the far corner of the net.

The momentum was now with Saints as 10 minutes of stoppage time was added on at the end of the second half. However, there was almost a sting in the tail as deep into stoppage time as a long ball forward was not dealt with by McGowan who slipped and Yengi broke forward for the visitors down the right. It looked like the Australian would unleash a shot at goal but instead he opted to slip the ball to Jason Holt however, the midfielder blasted his effort high into the North Stand as both sides had to settle for a point.  

PHOTO: Nicky Clark heads the ball in to make it 1-1

Saints: Mitov, McGowan, Gordon (Considine 56’), Clark, Jaiyesimi (Carey 45+4’), Robinson, M. Smith (Sidibeh 77’), Sprangler, Kimpioka (May 56’), Keltjens, Phillips

Unused Substitutes: Richards (GK), Gallacher, Kucheriavyi, K. Smith, C. Smith

Booked: Robinson, Sprangler

Scorer: Clark (87’)

Livingston: George, Montaño (Sangare 85’), Carson, Devlin (Guthrie 50’), Obileye, MacKay (Nouble 81’), Holt, Nottingham, Shinnie (Brandon 85’), Sean Kelly, Yengi

Unused Substitute: McGovern (GK), Anderson, Stephen Kelly, Bradley, Culbert

Booked: Montaño, Guthrie

Scorer: Shinnie (37’)

Referee: Chris Graham

VAR: David Dickinson

Attendance: 3,287

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Nicky Clark celebrates his goal