The Lions saw off fellow Premiership side Ross County to advance into the Scottish Cup Fifth Round. 

It was a cup tie with little between the sides as both looked to continue their good starts to the new year. County had beaten Motherwell midweek while Livingston were victorious against Dundee. 

The first half saw very few chances, but on 16 minutes Jack Fitzwater found Bruce Anderson in behind the Staggies’ defence after a fantastic through ball. The striker was baring down on goal and was pulled to the ground by defender Declan Drysdale as the referee pointed to the spot. 

Anderson fancied the spot kick himself, but in the end unselfishly handed the ball to the reliable Ayo Obileye who had netted Livi’s only penalty of the season at Tannadice in December. The defender stepped up and easily slotted home to give the hosts an early lead. 

Livingston kept probing for a second, but bookings for Stephane Omeonga and Jason Holt in the middle of the park highlighted the worry of the visitor’s counter attack threat. 

The Lions went in at the break with that one goal lead after neither side had created much by way of chances. 

At half time, debutant Caleb Chukwuemeka was replaced by Alan Forrest. 

Ross County began to start pushing for an equaliser after the restart, and came close to drawing level through Alex Samuel. Jake Vokins’ cross found the striker free as a bird in the penalty area, but the Welshmen’s header flew wide of the post. The search goes on for his first County goal. 

The away side kept coming, and it became a case of holding on for The Lions who also looked to threaten on the counter.

Joel Nouble was brought on after the hour mark for his debut after he was recalled from his loan with Arbroath having impressed with the Championship club.  

Blair Spittal came close to an equaliser as he let rip from the edge of the box. His low drive was heading for the bottom corner but Max Stryjek was down well to palm away. 

Joel Nouble had a chance himself as the ball fell to the forward inside the box as Livingston looked to seal the win, but he was denied by the feet of Ross Laidlaw.

Ross County came knocking again and created one last chance before the referee’s full-time whistle. A fantastic cross from Blair Spittal picked out Dominic Samuel in the six-yard box. Similar to his namesake earlier though, Samuel couldn’t convert the golden opportunity as Livi would hold on for a hard-fought victory. 

The win sets up a fierce Fifth Round tie at Tynecastle as Livingston make the short trip to Gorgie to take on Hearts as they fight to book a place in the last eight. 

 Match Report: Calum Brown

Livingston: Stryjek, Devlin, Fitzwater, Obileye, Longridge, Holt ▊, Omeonga ▊ (McMillan 52), Pittman, Bailey, Chukwuemeka (Forrest 45), Anderson (Nouble 60)
Subs not used: Maley, Boyes, Lewis, Jacobs, Montano, Shinnie
Goals: Obileye (16 pen)

Ross County: Laidlaw, Randall, Vokins, Spittal, Callachan, A.Samuel (White 60), D.Samuel, Burroughs (H.Paton 86), Ramsay, Drysdale ▊, B.Paton
Subs not used: Baldwin, Watson, Iacovitti, Charles-Cook, Munro, Hungbo, Maynard-Brewer

Referee: Bobby Madden
HT: 1-0
Att: 1,227

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