Frustrated Robertson admits Caley have got a mountain to climb

INVERNESS’ hopes of making a quick return to the Premiership were dealt another hammer blow as they slumped to a fourth Championship defeat in six.

The home side were booed by a section of their support at full-time. Manager John Robertson said: ‘I can understand the fans’ frustration.

‘We could have been a couple in front at half-time, but instead we gave away cheap goals and then lost our discipline and shape.

‘There are too many individual errors and we can’t keep giving ourselves mountains to climb.’

Livingston counterpart David Hopkin said: ‘We scored against the run of play, but we produced three great finishes and our second-half performance merited three points.’

The visitors scored from their only genuine chance in the first half to pinch the lead on the 24th minute.

Nikolay Todorov punished Inverness’ woeful defending when he finished off Danny Mullen’s corner kick.

Justice was seen to be done when Connor Bell equalised within four minutes after being released into space by man of the match Iain Vigurs’ perfectly measured through pass, to claim his first goal for the club.

Bell’s header then beat Livingston goalkeeper Neil Alexander, but the striker was ruled offside.

The home side were failing to convert possession into goals. In the 42nd minute, for example, Bell gathered a Joe Chalmers pass but struck the ball casually, allowing Alexander to block.

Livingston went ahead in the 52nd minute through a Scott Robinson effort from close range after Scott Pittman and Todorov had combined to create the opening.

That goal appeared to sap the Inverness players’ confidence — and they conceded a third in the 72nd minute when Craig Halkett volleyed from 15 yards.