St Mirren 1-1 Livingston
Livingston faced a trip to Paisley as they took on St Mirren in a cinch Premiership clash looking to make it five games unbeaten. The Buddies on the other end were looking to end a run of four matches without a win.
The Lions started the brighter of the two sides and dominated the early proceedings, creating the first chance of the match in the process.
Nicky Devlin drove down the right wing and whipped in a teasing delivery for opposite wide man Cristian Montaño. The winger got his head to the ball on the stretch, but his effort flew just wide of Jack Alnwick’s post.
Livingston went close again after Eamonn Brophy had a header that flew well wide of the target. Max Stryjek’s kick found Bruce Anderson who brought down the ball from the sky magnificently. The striker found Odin Bailey with a pass and the winger made some space for himself before firing an effort at goal which, in the end, was comfortable and straight down the throat of Alnwick.
Montaño had another opportunity in the second half to give his side the lead, but was denied by Jack Alnwick. Bailey’s deep free kick was floated in and Montaño was there again with a header which he got on target this time, only to see it pushed away by the St Mirren goalkeeper.
From almost nothing, St Mirren took the lead on 68 minutes through a piece of brilliance from Jamie McGrath. After the ball broke to him around 25 yards out, the midfielder curled a fabulous effort over Stryjek and into the top corner to give Saints the breakthrough.
Livingston manager David Martindale made a triple change with 15 minutes to play which saw a change in shape and the introduction of Jackson Longridge, Alan Forrest and Harrison Panayiotou.
With the clock ticking down and St Mirren content to sit back on their one goal lead, Livingston pushed for an equaliser and were rewarded for their efforts on 89 minutes.
Odin Bailey slipped Jason Holt in down the left wing and the midfielder cleverly cut back for substitute Alan Forrest. The winger’s strike was saved brilliantly by Alnwick, but fell kindly to skipper Nicky Devlin around 23 yards out.
On the half volley, the defender let rip and connected perfectly with the ball, sending a low drive into the far corner and sending the travelling fans wild in excitement at a late equaliser.
It would be a goal that earned a share of the spoils for The Lions in Paisley, and it was a thoroughly deserved point in the context of the 90 minutes. The draw stretches Livingston’s unbeaten run to five matches.
Match report: Calum Brown
St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy ▊, McCarthy (Dunne 34), Tait, Flynn, Power, Tanser, McGrath, Ronan (Dennis 61), Brophy (Main 78)
Subs not used: Lyness, Erhahon, Kiltie, McAllister
Goals: McGrath (68)
Livingston: Stryjek, Devlin, Fitzwater, Parkes, McMillan, Holt, Omeonga, Montaño (Forrest 75), Bailey, Shinnie (Longridge 75), Anderson (Panayiotou 75)
Subs not used: Maley, Penrice, Sibbald, Kabia
Goals: Devlin (88)
Referee: Steven McLean
HT: 0-0
Att: 3,016