First Team
Livingston 0-1 Saints
1st November 2018
Wednesday 31st October
Saints made it three wins in a row this evening as they defeated Livingston 1-0 at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
The only goal of the game came after 5 minutes when Matty Kennedy converted a Tony Watt cross at the back post.
The hosts tried to tried to fight back and their best chance of the game came on 35 minutes when Scott Pittman saw his strike saved by Zander Clark.
MATH REPORT
After defeating St Mirren 2-0 at McDiarmid Park on Saturday, Saints made the trip to take on Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena this evening. Tommy Wright made one change to the team that started at McDiarmid Park three days ago as Liam Gordon came in for Drey Wright who dropped to the bench. Livingston manager Gary Holt fielded the same team that defeated Dundee 4-0 at the Tony Macaroni Arena eleven days ago.
Before the match got underway there was a minute’s silence to remember those affected by Saturday’s helicopter crash outside Leicester City’s King Power Stadium.
Saints got the match underway and they were ahead within 5 minutes. Joe Shaughnessy floated a long diagonal free kick forward picking out Tony Watt. The Saints striker then forced his way into the box and past a couple of Livi players before crossing to Matty Kennedy who slotted the ball past Liam Kelly from close range at the back post.
The first booking of the game came after 21 minutes when David Wotherspoon went in the book for a foul on Dolly Menga. The resultant free kick was taken by Keaghan Jacobs who whipped the ball into the Saints box however, the danger was cleared by the Saints defence.
4 minutes later Saints were awarded a free kick after Watt had been fouled by Alan Lithgow on the edge of the box. The free kick was taken by Liam Craig and as he sent a low powerful ball into the box which was spilled by Kelly. However, Saints couldn’t take advantage of the spill as the home defence were able to clear the loose ball.
Saints were putting in a good performance and on 31 minutes they created another chance as Richard Foster whipped a good cross into the box from the right however, Watt was unable to make a connection with the ball as Kelly gathered.
With 10 minutes of the first half remaining the hosts created a good chance to draw level as Ricki Lamie’s cross picked out Menga. The Angolan striker then setup Scott Pittman however, his shot was well saved by Zander Clark. Livingston threatened again on 40 minutes as Craig Halkett put his header from a Steven Lawless corner wide of the target.
Tony Watt was putting in a power of work going forward for Saints as 5 minutes into the second half his low ball from the right picked out Scott Tanser on the edge of the 18-yard box however he blazed his effort over. Then on 56 minutes the Saints striker powered his way down the right before seeing his ball into the box turned behind for a corner. Craig took the corner however, his delivery into the box was well defended by the West Lothian club.
On 58 minutes Menga did well to create an opening as he cut the ball back to Lawless who saw his half volley deflected for a corner which was taken by Jacobs however, his in swinging ball was headed clear by Joe Shaughnessy.
10 minutes later Livingston made a double change as Bobby Burns and Egli Kaja came on for Scott Robinson and Steven Lawless as they tried to find a way back into the game. It wasn’t long until one of the substitutes was involved in the action as on 75 minutes Kaja linked up well with Pittman down the right before whipping over a good cross however, there were no takers.
The second half was a quiet affair with their little in the way of goalmouth action as Saints defended well and also found space to hit Livingston on the counter.
The hosts continued to push for an equaliser and on 83 minutes substitute Craig Sibbald saw his low effort from 20 yards go wide of the target.
Saints then comfortably saw the game to secure a third consecutive win which sees them remain in seventh place in the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership with 17 points. Next up is a trip to take on Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday.
Livingston: Kelly, Lamie, Lithgow, Halkett, Gallagher, Byrne, Pittman, Robinson (Burns 68), Jacobs (Sibbald 78), Lawless (Kaja 68), Menga
Unused Substitutes: Stewart (GK), Hamilton, Lawson, McMillan
Booked: Pittman, Menga, Halkett
Saints: Clark, Tanser, Shaughnessy, Davidson, Wotherspoon (Callaghan 80), Kerr, Foster, Gordon, Craig, Watt (Kane 78), Kennedy (Wright 86)
Unused Substitutes: Hurst (GK), Swanson, McMillan, Nydam
Booked: Wotherspoon, Craig
Scorer: Kennedy (5)
Referee: John Beaton
Attendance: 1,476 (405 Saints fans)
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Tony Watt in action against Shaun Byrne