Rovers rage as hard work is undone by a disputed penalty

LIVINGSTON avoided a Scottish Cup shock as they struck three times in the final 13 minutes to see off Raith Rovers — but not without controversy.

John Baird’s opener gave the League One leaders something to hold on to and the home side looked more and more devoid of ideas as time ticked away.

However, the Premiership outfit struck twice in the space of just 60 seconds as a debatable Steven Lawless penalty and a superb Lyndon Dykes finish after a mistake from Rovers defender Dave McKay turned the game on its head.

Lawless completed the comeback and ensured there would be no late drama when he completed a spot-kick double in injury-time following Michael Miller’s trip on substitute Chris Erskine.

It was a tough ending for the Kirkcaldy outfit and manager John McGlynn insisted referee Alan Newlands gave into pressure from the home players when he penalised Iain Davidson for handball to gave Livingston a lifeline.

‘Livingston didn’t look like scoring in the second half, we were so comfortable,’ he said.

‘I was thinking who we were going to get in the draw, because they did not look like scoring a goal. I don’t think they believed they were going to score a goal.

‘They didn’t have any answer. The game-plan worked a treat — until that moment. He (Newlands) was influenced by the Livingston players, who got on to him, because he took a few seconds to make the decision. It was not an automatic decision. It turned the game.’

Dykes bundled a shot against the post early on, before Baird struck to give Rovers belief.

Livvy manager Gary Holt insisted he never lost faith in his players.

‘At half-time, we had 45 minutes to get back in the game, so it’s not gung-ho, it’s not opening up so Raith can hit us on the counter attack,’ he said.

‘Be patient, if it takes until the 92nd minute, it takes until then.

‘I wasn’t panicking. ’