DUMBARTON 0 dfdg

LIVINGSTON 3 Miller (34), Hardie (36), De Vita (45)

David Hopkin claimed his Livingston side are happy just to be challenging for a playoff place as they completed a clean sweep of victories over Dumbarton this season.

The Lions hardly broke sweat to claim victory as first-half goals by Lee Miller, Ryan Hardie and Rafa De Vita gave them victory against a dreadful Sons side.

The hosts also had on-loan Rangers defender Aidan Wilson sent off.

The day belonged to a rampant Livi team who look certain to finish second to St Mirren – but their manager is just focusing on the top four.

Hopkin said: “Second place is irrelevant – a lot of people said our bubble would burst in September or October. The players are giving us everything.

“We had Craig Halkett and Alan Lithgow out so it was important to change shape. We just went man for man with Dumbarton and we are delighted with how it worked out. “We have more tough games coming up but we’re looking forward to them.”

Livi had dominated until the 34th minute when Miller put them in front. A corner was only half cleared and when the ball was put back in, the striker’s shot struck keeper Scott Gallacher and spun into the net.

Two minutes later Hardie beat the offside and ran on to execute a perfectly placed lob over Gallacher.

There was even time for a third, right on half time as De Vita got to a flicked header inside the area, rounded Gallacher, and had an easy finish. Tom Walsh went close with an early second-half chance for Dumbarton but Livi were unlucky not to run in more goals against their toiling opponents. Home manager Stevie Aitken was blunt in his assessment of the game and said: “One or two players started to look as if they felt sorry for themselves.

“If they want to do that, fine - but it won’tbeinmyteam.

“Today was not good enough and there are no excuses for it. I didn’t think the final would affect the players as much as it has.

“Two weeks ago we’d have taken on the world and now we look like a team struggling for confidence.