Livingston played host to Stenhousemuir who they faced for the second time this season, having lost on penalties at Ochilview which ultimately knocked us out of the league cup.

The Lions made 6 changes from the defeat in Arbroath the week before which seen 3 changes to the defensive line with Ryan McGowan, Jack Wilkie and Jordan Doherty all coming in as did Emmanual Danso, Sam Culbert and Cammy Palmer which created a whole new midfield 3.

A few former Lions lined up for the visitors in Darren Jamieson and Andrew Shinnie, as well as the obvious other two in Marvin Bartley and Neil Hastings leading The Warriors.

Muirhead switched the play early to van Hoeven who put a deep cross in for Muirhead, Robbie knocked it down for Cammy Palmer whose effort looked to be blocked by the hand of Leyton Grant, but the match official didn’t believe so. Play continued though and Sam Culbert’s wicked delivery found Bruce Anderson who would have been very disappointed not to find the back of the net to open the scoring.

The next chance was another one for the hosts after a good forward pass got Bruce Anderson in behind the Stenhousemuir defence on the left side, he awaited support which came in the shape of Cammy Palmer. Anderson squared the pass for Palmer, but the on-rushing midfielder could only guide his attempt wide of Jamieson’s left-hand post.

The opening goal came from former Lion, Andrew Shinnie, 14 minutes. A loose pass from Brooklyn Kabongolo was left short for Sam Culbert in the middle of the pitch and intercepted. The ball fell for Michael Anderson who laid it through to Shinnie who dispatched it neatly under the oncoming Jermone Prior to break the deadlock at The Home of The Set Fare Arena.

Livingston applied some pressure in the closing stages of the half, another penalty claim, this time as Bruce Anderson went down under pressure from Leyton Grant who appeared to have some of his shirt, but nothing given.
Anderson had another chance, after another sumptuous delivery from Culbert landed on the head of Anderson at the back post but could only guide his header just wide.

Half time: Livingston 0-1 Stenhousemuir (Shinnie 14’)

Livingston continued to huff and puff but created a wonderful chance from a well worked Robbie Muirhead free kick. It looked like he was going to swing one into the box from deep, but Bruce Anderson made an intelligent run creating a chance for himself on the angle around 6 yards out but it was cleared off the line by Scott Bright.

Bradly van Hoeven was next to get a save from Darren Jamieson, another well worked set-piece this time from a corner kick as Muirhead played it short to the Dutch winger who cut inside and tested Jamieson from the corner of the area. A decent stop but one you’d expect the experienced goalkeeper to make.

Livingston’s 3rd penalty claim was also turned away by the match referee, one that looked as clear as day as van Hoeven took it on the backfoot and was about to unleash an effort on goal and he was taken out from his right side with no contact to the ball. A 3rd claim waved away.

Stenhousemuir had a corner kick, but it was almost Livingston who benefitted from it as the clearance fell for Polworth. He broke down the right-hand side and has tried to lob Jamieson in the Stenhousemuir goal from all of 40 yards but has just drifted past the post to keep the scoreline the same.

The game in turn then fell away from the hosts as Stenhousemuir got all 3 points in the end which would ultimately mean this was Glenn Whelan’s last game in charge of the football club.

Next up for Livingston is another Friday evening match as we travel west to take on Greenock Morton.

Match report: Connor McCloskey

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