Livingston 2-0 Saints

The hosts took the lead on 23 minutes as Bruce Anderson played in Nouble who sent a clinical finish beyond Remi Matthews.

Livi then doubled their lead on 38 minutes as Kelly curled a 25-yard free kick over the Saints wall as his effort went in off Matthews’ right-hand post.

Saints came close to pulling a goal back late on as substitute Graham Carey saw his effort cleared off the line by Morgan Boyes.

Next up for Saints is a home game next Saturday as they welcome Hibs to Perth, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

West Lothian was the destination for Saints this afternoon as they took on Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena. Saints lost 2-0 to Ross County at McDiarmid Park last Saturday and Callum Davidson made three changes to his starting eleven for this afternoons cinch Premiership match. James Brown, David Wotherspoon and Zak Rudden all dropped to the bench and they were replaced by Cammy MacPherson, Jamie Murphy and Connor McLennan. Livingston lost 3-0 at Motherwell last weekend and manager David Martindale made four changes to his starting eleven this afternoon. Morgan Boyes, Cristian Montaño, Andrew Shinnie and Bruce Anderson all came in to replace Luiyi de Lucas, James Penrice, Stephane Oméonga and Kurtis Guthrie who all dropped to the bench.

Jamie Murphy got the match underway for Saints but it was the hosts who created the first chance of the match after 3 minutes. A long ball forward by Morgan Boyes played in Stephen Bradley who unleashed a strike at goal which went narrowly wide.

Play quickly switched to the other end as a minute later Melker Hallberg played the ball into the feet of Stevie May however, his effort was blocked by a Livi defender.

It was a lively start to the match and on 5 minutes Joel Nouble got a sight of goal as Drey Wright failed to deal with a long ball forward however, the strike from the forward was saved by Remi Matthews. Nouble was again involved in the thick of the action 2 minutes later as he played in Bradley however, the midfielder dragged his effort wide.

PHOTO: Dan Phillips holds off Stephen Kelly and Jason Holt

Both sides were creating chances and on 12 minutes good build up play by Saints saw the ball played out wide to Murphy who carried the ball down the left channel before sending over an inviting delivery into the box. The delivery was perfect for Connor McLennan who got on the end of the cross however, his header was straight at Shamal George in the home goal.

The breakthrough came on 23 minutes as Livingston took the lead. Bruce Anderson did well the bring the ball down to control it and turned before playing in Nouble who used his power to hold off the challenge from Wright before slotting a clinical right footed effort beyond Matthews.

The hosts thought they had doubled their lead 10 minutes later as Bradley played a good one-two with Anderson before slotting the ball into the net however, the goal was disallowed as Anderson had strayed into an offside position.

However, the Lions did extend their lead shortly after. The hosts were awarded a free kick 25 yards out on 36 minutes following a foul on Anderson by Cammy MacPherson. Stephen Kelly took the free kick and the midfielder whipped his free kick up and over the wall as his effort went on off Matthews’ right-hand post.

PHOTO: Stephen Kelly scores Livingston’s second goal

Callum Davidson made a change before the second half could get underway as Graham Carey came on to replace Dan Phillips.

The hosts started the second half strongly and on 50 minutes a long ball forward by Jack Fitzwater played in Anderson who did well to hold off the challenge from Liam Gordon before unleashing a strike which lacked power as Matthews comfortably gathered.

Saints created a good chance to get back in the match a minute later as a great ball forward played in McLennan down the right channel and his cut-back picked out Carey in space however, he blasted his effort over.

PHOTO: Graham Carey reacts after shooting over the bar

The Lions had chances to further extend their lead. On 56 minutes a good passing move ended with Nicky Devlin crossing the ball into the box as he looked to pick out Cristian Montaño however, the Colombian took a heavy touch with just Matthews to beat. Then 2 minutes later Anderson set Stephen Kelly free down the right and the midfielder returned the ball to Anderson, who was now in the Saints box, however, the forward couldn’t make a clean connection with the delivery and the chance was gone.

The Perth side continued to search for a way back into the game and on the hour mark Adam Montgomery sent a great cross into the box however, Hallberg’s effort drifted wide of the target.

Saints made their second change of the game on 66 minutes as Jamie Murphy made way for Zak Rudden and the on-loan Dundee forward ended up in referee David Munro’s book 5 minutes later as he went down in the box, claiming for a penalty but was shown a yellow card for simulation.

Saints final change of the game came on 78 minutes as David Wotherspoon replaced Cammy MacPherson.

PHOTO: Connor McLennan and Cristian Montaño

As the match entered the final 10 minutes McLennan setup Carey however, his driving effort was cleared off the line by Boyes. Then on 85 minutes Callum Davidson’s men were awarded a free kick in an inviting position following a foul on Rudden by Boyes. Wotherspoon took the free kick and his floated delivery into the box fell to Wright but his effort was blocked. The loose ball then broke to McLennan but he couldn’t direct his effort on target.

The final chance of the match fell to Saints and it came deep into the 6 minutes of additional time as a May cross from the right was met by Wright however, he couldn’t find the target with his header as the hosts comfortably saw the game out to secure the points.

PHOTO: Saints manager Callum Davidson applauds the travelling fans at full time

Livingston: George, Devlin, Fitzwater, Boyes, Montaño, Holt (Sean Kelly 82), Stephen Kelly (Oméonga 87), Shinnie, Bradley (Pittman 77), Nouble, Anderson

Unused Substitutes: Hamilton (GK), Bahamboula, Brandon, de Lucas, Guthrie, Penrice

Booked: Holt, Boyes

Scorers: Nouble (23), Stephen Kelly (38)

Saints: Matthews, Wright, Gordon, McGowan, Montgomery, MacPherson (Wotherspoon 78), Phillips (Carey 45), Murphy (Rudden 66), Hallberg, McLennan, May

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Mitchell, Brown, Gallacher, Bair, Moreland

Booked: Rudden

Referee: David Munro

VAR: Kevin Clancy

Attendance: 3,976

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Jamie Murphy gets away from Steven Bradley