LIONS SHOW RESOLVE TO HANG ON FOR A POINT AS UNITED RUN OUT OF IDEAS

LIVINGSTON 1 DUNDEE UNITED 1

LIVINGSTON’S renowned battling qualities were put to the test after the Lions claimed a deserved share of the spoils at home to Dundee United, even though they played the second half with ten men. The match swung in the visitors’ favour in first-half stoppage-time when on-loan Rangers midfielder Ben Williamson was dismissed for a high challenge on Declan Glass by referee Colin Steven. Livingston manager David Martindale was also sent off for taking his protests too far. Despite the numerical disparity, there were no further goals after the break. Livingston had gone ahead through Jack

Fitzwater’s 37th-minute header, though the final touch appeared to come off United forward Nicky Clark, but that lead lasted only five minutes, Peter Pawlett finishing off a flowing move. In the end, a point apiece was a fair reflection on the game given the effort the home side put in after the break. Livi manager Martindale insists he would fight any potential dugout ban after being sent off. He said: ‘All I wanted to do was speak to the linesman (Graeme Leslie) and I was two metres outside my technical area. ‘I wanted to ask him about the challenge as he was in line and in sight of the ball. ‘The fourth official (Lloyd Wilson) has then come back and put his forearm on my chest and pushed me back. I told him to take his hands off of me and I went back and sat down. If I’d used offensive language then I would apologise. ‘Eight years I’ve been at this club and I’ve never been sent off. If I did swear I would take it on the chin and apologise. I did not deserve to get sent off and I’m going to contest it because I’m not having it.’ The visitors began with a swagger having won their previous three games heading into this clash, and within the first 60 seconds they went close through Pawlett. Some lovely one-touch football down the left flank released Scott McMann and his low cross was met by Pawlett but the winger could only stab his effort wide. Thomas Courts’ side looked threatening every time they got into the final third, although at the other end Charlie Mulgrew had to look lively to block a Bruce Anderson shot from a Nicky Devlin corner. The hosts broke the deadlock in the 37th