Saints fall into
However, the Frenchman’s effort was straight at keeper Ross Stewart.
The sucker punch arrived in the 26th minute after Chris Erskine had watched his 20-yard shot deflect wide off a Saints defender. Aymen Souda then swung in the resulting corner and onto the unmarked Lithgow, who bulleted his header into the back of the net.
The scrappy nature of the first half continued after that until Souda, and most of the home support, thought he’d put the hosts 2-0 up on 41 minutes. The tricky winger cut inside as he looked to get a shot away. Eventually he let fly but was inches wide as the ball ruffled the side netting.
Dykes then headed wide from a Nicky Devlin cross as Livingston finished the opening period strongly.
The second half was a completely different game.
Perhaps it was the half-time dressing down from Goodwin, something in the tea or just the boost of having the wind at their backs but St Mirren emerged from the tunnel a different animal.
And within seconds of the restart they could have been level.
Buddies striker Jonathan Obika headed over a McAllister cross from the right before the big forward saw Stewart block his effort from close range just moments later.
Goodwin’s men were finding more joy down the right and another good move ended with a series of blocked efforts with Andreu unable to turn the final deflection towards goal.
It all made what happened next even harder to swallow for the travelling