A LONG SHOT
Livi’s title bid all but over despite late Jackson goal salvaging point
ST MIRREN put one hand on the Championship trophy last night – without kicking a ball.
Livingston saw their slim hopes of overhauling the Buddies surely disappear in a breathless draw against Morton as both sides found the net in a dramatic finale.
A second-half red card to Shaun Byrne looked to have proved costly for Livi when Gary Oliver pounced in the dying moments.
But David Hopkin’s 10-men levelled through a deflected drive from Jackson Longridge to extend their unbeaten run to seven games.
Hopkin hailed the never-say-die attitude of his players and said: “To concede when we did, you fear the worst – but then Jacko pops up with his first goal of the season. This lot just don’t know when to give up and that’s a great trait to have.
“It’s a great point after playing the last half-hour with 10 men. Those players were out on their feet, Jordan Thompson was playing with cramp, so it was an incredible effort.”
Morton talisman Gary Harkins was the first to threaten, with a back-post header nestling in the arms of Neil Alexander. The former Scotland keeper then saved a powerful drive from Oliver.
But it was Livi who thought they had broken the deadlock midway through the first half. A low shot from the edge of the box by Rangers loan-star Thompson forced a fine save from Derek Gaston only for Lee Miller to tap home the rebound – but celebrations were cut short by the offside flag.
Morton boss Jim Duffy was left howling for a penalty when Declan Gallagher dragged Scott Tiffoney to the ground inside the box, not that it interested referee Greg Aitken.
Livi’s Josh Mullin had a glorious opportunity as half-time approached.
He surged into the box and toepoked an effort towards goal, only for Gaston to pull off a great save with his feet and recover in time to block Rafa De Vita’s rebound.
A snap-shot by Ryan Hardie narrowly cleared the bar as Livi continued to enjoy the better of the contest after the break and lastditch defending scrambled Scott Pittman’s delivery to safety.
The clash was turned on its head after 65 minutes when Aitken handed a second yellow to Byrne, who was judged to have tripped Harkins.
Ton took advantage after 88 minutes when Oliver scrambled a loose ball beyond Alexander.
But in injury time a speculative drive from Longridge took a kind deflection past Gaston to level.
Ton boss Duffy said: “We fought for every ball, dominated parts of the game and played very well. It hurts now but we can be happy with that display.”