Obi’s the one as his double snatches a point for Buddies
Jim Goodwin saluted the St Mirren strikers who refused to let Livingston blow them off course.
The Buddies came back from 3-1 down to grab a point in stormy conditions.
Jon Obika got a double after losing his man to let Livi establish a two-goal lead right on the stroke of half-time.
Saints have had a problem hitting the net this season and it seemed likely they would try to recruit a new front-man during the January transfer window.
However, Goodwin says he always backed his players to start firing in front of goal.
He said: “I’m delighted for Jon getting two goals and an assist.
“He dropped his runner for their second goal, so he owed the team that.
“I’m pleased for Junior Morias getting a goal as well.
“Questions were asked of the strikers earlier in the season, but we knew the qualities they possessed in terms of their physical attributes and work-rate.
“I had every confidence the goals would start to come and I’m delighted to see them both start to hit the net.
“We are always looking at every position, but I am happy with the four I’ve got – Junior, Obika, Danny Mullen and Cody Cooke.
“I’m happy to go into the second half of the campaign with those four.”
The high winds meant it was an afternoon when you wanted to be a striker and not a defender.
Home goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky was almost caught out early on when the gale nearly carried a clearance over his head.
Livingston took the lead when Ryan Flynn was dispossessed on the edge of his own box by Souda and the midfield man produced a fine finish just inside the post.
Saints equalised when Obika robbed Lamie and squared the ball to Junior Morais.
The Jamaican was unmarked in the penalty area and fired home his second goal of the season.
St Mirren were left kicking themselves when they conceded just before the half-time whistle.
Sibbald clipped a free-kick into the penalty area and Jon Guthrie was allowed to nod the ball home.
It was exceptionally soft defending from the home side and a bad time to lose a goal.
Things got even worse for them when Livi increased their lead.
A clearance up the field by the goalkeeper was flicked on by
Dykes and chased by Souda. The Tunisian took advantage of more dithering in the Saints defence by taking a touch and then firing into the net.
The swirling conditions meant it was an ideal afternoon for trying your luck with a shot.
Tony Andreu smacked one from the left and Obika got a touch to send it flying past the goalie.
He later came up with the goal that earned St Mirren a point.
It was a day when both sides deserved something just for serving up a reasonable game in such awful weather.
Obika hooked in a shot inside the penalty area and, with the aid of a deflection, it went spinning over Sarkic before landing in the net.
At least both sets of fans – including the small hardy band from Livingston – could go home with something to show for enduring the cold.
Jim Goodwin admitted the conditions were challenging but he maintained it’s just something we have to accept in Scotland.
The Buddies boss said: “I wouldn’t have supported the game being put off.
“I’ve played in worse.
“In this country, if we’re going to call game off because of high winds and rain, then we’re probably not going to kick a ball.
“Both sets of players deserve credit for the way then went about it.”