Holt left howling as Dundee find Wright stuff to win the day
LIVINGSTON manager Gary Holt was left cursing referee Greg Aitken’s ‘howler’ as the 10-man hosts lost out to Dundee following a stunning Scott Wright free-kick.
The on-loan Aberdeen playmaker swept an exquisite effort into the top corner seven minutes from time to lift the Dark Blues out of the Premiership bottom two for the first time this season.
That moment of genius came just five minutes after the hosts were denied what they considered to be a blatant penalty.
To add injury to insult, referee Aitken showed Livingston substitute Steven Lawless a yellow card for diving, despite appearing to be clipped by Jesse Curran.
It was a harsh ending for Livingston, who had taken the lead in the 18th minute through Craig Halkett — four minutes after having Shaun Byrne sent off for a high challenge on Andy Dales. Andrew Nelson levelled for the visitors in the 54th minute with a looping header.
‘It’s a stonewall penalty at a crucial point in the game,’ said an exasperated Holt.
‘If they can’t get decisions right, then what chance have you got?
‘The players are hurt because the official cost us. If you have a chance to go 2-1 up, then it deflates Dundee because they’d thrown everything at us and weren’t really troubling us.
‘He’s made a howler in my eyes and, hopefully, we get some back over the season.’
Livingston won this fixture 4-0 back in October and the magnitude of Dundee manager Jim McIntyre’s recent squad overhaul was highlighted by the fact that not a single member of that side started yesterday afternoon.
Every goal came from a dead-ball situation on that harrowing day and it was another set-play move that left Dundee exposed as Halkett scored Livingston’s first goal in some 469 minutes of action.
The long throw of Alan Lithgow again proved a valuable weapon for Livingston in their goal, with the ball breaking to Halkett, who squeezed a half-volley into the net at the back post.
With a man advantage, McIntyre’s side should have opened the scoring just 60 seconds earlier, but Wright blazed a left-footed strike over with the goal at his mercy after being found by Nelson.
The Dark Blues remained wasteful, Nelson and Andy Dales among those needing to calibrate their sights.
Former Sunderland marksman Nelson, however, brought Dundee level after Wright’s delivery.
The Tayside outfit should have been ahead on the hour mark but substitute Paul McGowan fired wide following a delightful pass from James Horsfield.
Livingston continued to look a threat on the counter, particularly with the pace of Ryan Hardie as an outlet.
Then came an incident-packed ending to the match. After Lawless was booked for diving, Wright swept a stunning free-kick into the top corner from 20 yards to settle this pulsating match.
‘It’s nice (being out of the bottom two), but it doesn’t matter, as long as we’re out the bottom two in May,’ said McIntyre, whose side climbed up to 10th on goal difference at Hamilton’s expense.
‘It’s great for confidence but you can be back in it next week.’