Despite a spirited performance, Livingston fell to another defeat following a much improved display away to Kilmarnock. A last gasp Marley Watkins goal was enough to ensure three points for the hosts.

David Martindale chose to make wholesale changes to the team defeated at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon, with Joel Nouble, Mo Sangare, Andrew Shinnie and James Penrice dropping out for Daniel Mackay, Steven Bradley and Michael Nottingham, with Tete Yengi also getting his first start in a Livi shirt.

The opening spell saw Killie looking uncomfortable both on the ball and out of possession, and it allowed the visitors a chance to look threatening; an unforced error seeing a lackadaisical header to William Dennis gift the Lions a corner, which was punched clear by the Killie keeper.

Livi had a great opportunity to take the lead on the quarter of the hour mark. Jason Holt; wearing the captain’s armband for the night; caught Danny Armstrong in possession deep in the Lions half. Driving forward, his through ball to Tete Yengi looked inch perfect, however the ball hit the Australian’s heel and halted any chance of a one-on-one with Dennis.

Again it would be Livi with the pressure five minutes later and a free kick looped into the box by Steven Bradley found Michael Nottingham on the six-yard line, his header straight at the grateful Dennis.

The home side would show signs of life upfront five minutes to half time. A fierce cross by Stuart Findlay flashed across the Livi goal but wasn’t able to find anyone before hitting off Jamie Brandon and out for a corner which was subsequently cleared.

Minutes later, and the Lions would have the ball in the back of the net. A through pass from Scott Pittman to Dan Mackay allowed him to touch the ball passed the keeper and roll it into the empty net, however VAR would rule the goal offside.

Livi looked dangerous on almost every attack they made, and on the 45th minute had another opportunity. A long ball to Tete Yengi was held up well amid pressure, poking the ball through to Holt whose shot was high and wide.

The Australian striker had the chance to put the ball in the net himself seconds later, with another superb through-ball finding him one-on-one, however his shot was wide of the near post.

Despite changes by Derek McInnes, the second half started much the same as the first, with Livi looking more threatening. a free kick from the right by Bradley was almost met at the back post by Ayo Obileye, followed by a low driving ball across the box that had to be cleared smartly by the Killie defence.

Just passed the hour mark and Kilmarnock had their best opportunity of the match. A corner from the right was placed right in the six-yard box finding the head of Liam Donnelly, whose glanced attempt forced Shamal George into a smart shot to deny the Ayrshire side stealing the lead.

With the game really opening up, it was Livi’s turn to attack. Mackay found space down the left wing, cutting inside decided to take on the shot when the better option appeared to be to square it for the tap in, with the resultant shot disappointing. He had the opportunity to make amends a minute later, as he found space to get a shot away from the edge of the box, the shot itself on target but easy for Dennis to collect.

Livi should have taken the lead on 75 minutes, with a misjudged ball allowing Andrew Shinnie in down the right, his low cut back cross found Mo Sangare, who got it all wrong firing over the bar.

Marley Watkins called George into action moments later. Fraser Murray controlled the ball and found the head of Watkins, with his header parried away by the Lions keeper and away by the defence.

It was a game screaming out for a goal, and it came two minutes from time. A lovely ball across the face of the goal found Kevin Van Veen, whose header back across was smashed home from close range by Watkins to give the hosts a perhaps undeserved lead.

It was almost two just as the clock ticked over to the 90, Murray rushing into the box from the right and his low drive across the face of the goal was almost turned home by Michael Nottingham, however the ball rolled passed the post to spare his blushes.

The goal would prove to be the sucker punch for the Lions, who travel back from Ayrshire feeling incredibly hard done by to take nothing from a match that was for all intents and purpose theirs for the taking.

Match Report: David Hastie

Share this: