Late double salvo extends Martindale’s unbeaten start to 12
A late double salvo proved enough to secure Livingston a 2-0 win over Kilmarnock and extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 12 matches.
A stodgy encounter appeared destined to end in stalemate until 20-year-old
Jaze Kabia, a January capture from Shelbourne, notched his first goal for the Lions after 87 minutes.
With Killie rattled, the tireless Scott Pittman, celebrating his 250th outing for the club, almost immediately rippled the net to make the points safe.
The result – which could have been more handsome, given Jon Guthrie struck the bar in the first half – sees Livi move to within five points of fourth-placed Hibernian with a game in hand.
David Martindale remains yet to taste defeat since succeeding Gary Holt last Novem
ber and has overseen 10 wins and two draws.
It was in-form Livi that made the early running, with Alan Forrest forcing a fine finger-tip save from Danny Rogers after scampering in behind fullback Aaron Mcgowan.
The hosts came even closer tobreakingthedeadlockwhen Guthrie headed a Josh Mullin corner against the bar.
Kilmarnock awoke from their slumber after the interval, with Chris Burke forcing a comfortable low stop from Livi number one Max Stryjek and new signing George Oakley fizzing a drive over the bar .
However, it would be Livingston who snatched the spoils during a breathless finale.
Kabia, thrown on as a late substitute, reacted swiftest to a blocked Sibbald shot and produced a low drive which found the roof of the net via a slight deflection off Ross Millen.
And Pittman marked his milestone appearance by finding the net, haring onto a hopeful ball forward and poking an effort beyond Rogers.
LIVINGSTON: Stryjek, Devlin, Fitzwater, Guthrie, Brown, Bartley (Sibbald 67), Holt, Mullin (Robinson 60), Pittman, Forrest (Kabia 76), Reilly (Emmanuel-thomas 59). Subs not used: Mccrorie, Serrano, Mcmillan, Longridge, Lawson.
KILMARNOCK: Rogers, Mcgowan, Rossi, Findlay (Millen 45), Haunstrup, Burke (Dabo 75), Power, Tshibola, Pinnock, Mckenzie, Oakley (Kabamba 86). Subs not used: Whitehall, Doyle, Brindley, Taylor.
Referee: Steven Kirkland.