Saints no match for a lively Livi
Buddies’ nine-game unbeaten run comes to an end
Livingston..........4 St Mirren............1
Craig Ritchie
A week is a long time in football but the past seven days have felt like an eternity for St Mirren.
For a week that started so calmly, the bedlam of the managerial saga surrounding Jack Ross quickly hogged the headlines.
A few days fraught with nerves were followed up by the sheer elation that Ross had chosen to stick to his guns and pledge his future to the Buddies.
Saturday brought an emotional release that saw upwards of 1,500 Saints supporters hit the road destined for Livingston to thank the gaffer for seeing through a season which should inevitably end in a title.
But they would depart through the exit gates with their heads in their hands, following a bruising loss that would have left them feeling at rock bottom.
Who said being a St Mirren fan was easy?
The game itself was something of an emotional roller coaster.
Ryan Flynn’s opener looked to have the Saints on easy street after only three minutes – but what followed was a total collapse that resulted in a 4-1 mauling.
Taking the opening few minutes out of the equation, St Mirren were bullied MirrenmanRyanHardiehadotherideas Mirren man Ryan Hardie had other ideas as the bottle came crashing down.
Out of nowhere, an afternoon that had started with so much promise soon descended into a nightmare.
Saints would fail to hold on to their lead for any more than six minutes after a calamitous mix-up between Jack Baird and keeper Craig Samson allowed Hardie the simplest of finishes.
The pair both rushed for the ball only to clear one another out on the edge of the St Mirren box, with Hardie lapping it up to silence his Saints critics with an easy tap.
And he was back at it again eight minutes later, when Livingston made it 2-1 as the Buddies again failed to clear their lines. A long throw into the box was nodded on by defender Declan Gallagher and there was Hardie again – this time producing a fine volley into the bottom corner.
St Mirren were on the rack and looked like a side who had never played alongside one another.
They were being outfought and outsmarted all over the pitch before the third could even follow in 21 minutes.
An aimless ball towards the back post found Rafa De Vita after he managed to wriggle clear of Eckersley. His header ba back across the face of goal looked harmless enough, but with his back to Samson the experienced Lee Miller produced a moment of magic to acrobatically overhead kick into the bottom corner.
The hosts were now well and truly in control, and as much as the St Mirren fans didn’t like it, Livi were managing the game fantastically well as they bought cheap free-kicks and slowed down the clock.
Saints may have been starting to get more of a foothold in proceedings with regards to possession, but still Livingston were looking the more threatening.
With the bit between his teeth, Hardie broke free before firing a snapshot that required Samson to get down low to block. De Vita was next to try his luck with a driven effort into the ground, but the strike eventually bounced clear of the far post.
As the teams re- emerged for the second half, the Buddies were roared back on to the park.
But, within a blink of an eye, it could have been 4-1 then, had it not been for Samson. Miller was again the target with a high ball, and although the former Falkirk man rose highest, the keeper was a match for his bullet header.
Within 65 minutes, Saints gaffer Ross had used all three of his substitutes, with the former Livingston duo of Danny Mullen and Miles Hippolyte both introduced. Gary MacKenzie also came on as Cammy Smith, Gavin Reilly and Ryan Flynn all made way.
But despite the change in personnel and formation, with Saints going to a 3-5-2, the Buddies still appeared devoid of ideas despite looking to get themselves back into the game.
Livingston soon came close to another after St Mirren forced a corner. The hosts broke quickly up the park as Alexander threw into the path of ex- Hearts midfielder Scott Robinson.
Robinson lost no time in threading the ball to Hardie, one-on-one with Samson, but his strike clattered off of the keeper’s crossbar.
And they soon went even closer, with Nicky Cadden rampaging clear of the St Mirren defence only to find his composure lacking as he slid into the side netting.
With 15 minutes left to preserve their proud nine-match unbeaten run, Hippolye thought he had given Saints hope as he fired on the angle. However, his former teammate Scott Pittman somehow got across to clear off the line Livingston 4 St Mirren 1 De Vita (63), Mullen (71) Referee Alan Muir Attendance 2,708 Teams: Livingston Alexander, Gallagher, Lithgow, Halkett, Pittman, Robinson, Byrne, De Vita (McMillan 72), Cadden (Longridge 73), Miller, Hardie (Boyd 82). Subs not used: Maley, Buchanan, Jacobs and Mullin. St Mirren Samson, L Smith, Eckersley, Baird, Davis, Magennis, McGinn, Flynn (MacKenzie 50), C Smith (Hippolyte 63), Morgan, Reilly (Mullen 57). Subs not used: Stewart, Stelios, Hill and McShane.
after Alexander failed to hold.
Route one was now the way to go as the final 10 minutes neared, with Saints lumping it forward at each and every opportunity.
But the icing on the cake for the hosts was added in the final few seconds, with a sublime finish from Scott Robinson lobbing Samson, following a mix-up between the keeper and captain Stephen McGinn.