Livingston welcomed Ross County to West Lothian as they looked to continue on their recent upturn in form after 1-0 victories against Hibernian and Dundee United.

County came into this one off the back of an agonising last-minute defeat to Celtic midweek, but had beaten Dundee 3-2 the previous weekend.

It was a match that both sides were fearful of losing due to the tight nature of the cinch Premiership table, and that was apparent in a very cagey, drab first half.

The Lions had the majority of possession in that opening 45 minutes, but neither team created much. Nicky Devlin saw his cross come shot fly wide of the post before Craig Sibbald was denied a penalty.

With the last kick of the first half though, and with their only real chance of the match to that point, Ross County took the lead through a long-distance strike from David Cancola. A clearance from James Penrice fell to the midfielder and he took a touch before curling a strike into the top corner to send his side into the break a goal to the good.

There was a lot more action in the second half, as Livingston pushed for an equaliser which allowed the visitors to sit back and try an execute counter attacks. The first chance of the half came through this.

A great switch of play saw Regan Charles-Cook in acres of space and the winger drove towards the heart of the Livi defence before striking at goal. His effort was held by Stryjek though.

Ayo Obileye and Jack Fitzwater both came close from Alan Forrest corners, but despite their pressure Livingston couldn’t quite find that equaliser they were looking for.

Forrest went close himself from the edge of the box when his shot flew just wide, but Ross County really should have doubled their lead after an error from Stryjek presented them with a golden opportunity.

The goalkeeper came off his line to the left of his box to try and deal with a deflected ball towards Jordan White but under pressure from the big striker, his punch fell to Ross Callachan. From a very tight angle and with a difficult bounce, the midfielder couldn’t quite apply the finishing touch as his effort crashed off the post much to Livi’s relief.

Skipper Nicky Devlin forced Ashley Maynard-Brewer into a save late on before The Lions finally made the breakthrough and added a deserved equaliser on 89 minutes.

James Penrice’s deep cross found Ayo Obileye at the back post, and the defender climbed highest to head home for his second goal in as many games.

That goal, and point, could be crucial come the end of the season, and it made it three without defeat for David Martindale’s men.

Match Report: Calum Brown

Livingston: Stryjek, Devlin, Fitzwater, Obileye ▊, Penrice ▊, Holt, Omeonga, McMillan (Bailey 57), Sibbald (Pittman 70), Forrest, Shinnie (Anderson 74)
Subs not used: Maley, Kelly, Longridge, Panayiotou
Goals: Obileye (89)

Ross County: Maynard-Brewer, Randall ▊, Vokins, Cancola ▊, Baldwin ▊ Spittal (Burroughs 82), D.Samuel (Callachan 66), Charles-Cook ▊ (Watson 85), Clarke, Tillson, White
Subs not used: A.Samuel, Hungbo, Paton, Laidlaw
Goals: Cancola (45)

Referee: Grant Irvine
HT: 0-1
Att: 2,554

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