Livingston 0-1 St Mirren
St Mirren claimed all three points at the Tony Macaroni Arena thanks to an Ethan Erhahon strike, making it three defeats in a row for The Lions.
The opening 25 minutes were tightly contested, with Livingston edging possession and looking the most likely to open the scoring. But, neither side created anything of real note.
On 29 minutes, from a Livi corner, St Mirren took the lead with a perfectly executed counter attack. Conor Ronan broke away, advancing into the Livi half at pace before picking out Marcus Fraser. The defender was allowed time and space to pick out Erhahon who found the back of the net, seeing his tame shot squirm under Max Stryjek and into the back of the net.
Livi looked to bounce back immediately, and had a few opportunities before the break. Stephane Omeonga took the ball down well and beat his man before firing at goal, but it was comfortable for Saints keeper Jack Alnwick.
Alan Forrest then went close after a well-worked move down the left. Odin Bailey found the winger who shifted the ball onto his left foot and tried his luck with an effort across goal which went just wide of the post. Then, James Penrice had a guilt-edged chance to make it 1-1 after he was slipped through, but one-on-one with Alnwick, the defender was denied.
Livingston’s best chance of the game fell about a minute before half time when Ayo Obileye saw his effort cleared off the line. From a corner, Alan Forrest’s knock down was met on the volley by the defender but a combination of Alan Power and Jamie McGrath managed to avert the danger.
Half time: Livingston 0-1 St Mirren
The Lions continued to push for the equaliser in the second half, but despite pressure and chances since going a goal down, it wasn’t forthcoming.
Jackson Longridge was next to try his luck. The full back took two St Mirren men out the game with a fantastic piece of skill before drilling an effort towards goal which went just wide of the post.
Alan Forrest’s cross then found Odin Bailey who worked the ball brilliantly onto his right foot inside the box. Still searching for his first Livi goal, the on-loan Birmingham man struck the ball at goal but a fantastic block from Joe Shaughnessy stopped what looked to be a certain goal bound effort.
Livi were nearly made to rue their chances even more when Connor McCarthy connected with a Scott Tanser free kick, but the defender diverted the ball narrowly over the bar from close range.
Despite several opportunities on the afternoon, Livingston couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net and they were made to pay as a result, with Jim Goodwin’s side seeing out the game and going home with a 1-0 victory.
It’s certainly a frustrating one for Livingston who will feel they created enough chances to not only take a point from the match, but all three. The Lions go into the international break on just four points from their first eight Premiership matches.
Match Report: Calum Brown
Livingston: Stryjek, McMillan (Devlin 64), Obileye, Fitzwater, Longridge ▊, Holt, Omeonga, Penrice, Forrest ▊, Bailey (Hamilton 78), Shinnie (Anderson 50)
Subs not used: Maley, Kelly, Montaño, Williamson
St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy, McCarthy, Millar (McAllister 75), Power, Erhahon, Tanser, McGrath, Ronan (Main 64), Brophy (Erwin 89)
Subs not used: Lyness, Tait, Flynn, Reid
Goals: Erhahon (29)
Referee: Grant Irvine
HT: 0-1
Att: 1,627
