It’s all too easy for festive Tangerines
Off-colour Livingston struggle at Tannadice
Callum Carson Livingston fell to their largest defeat of the season after being swept aside by an impressive Dundee United at Tannadice.
The Lions went into the squad with several players struggling for fitness due to illness, with goalkeeper Neil Alexander having to miss out as Gary Maley was handed his first league appearance in goal for the visitors.
United extended their unbeaten run to seven games with a clinical display.
Csaba Laszlo’s side even had the luxury of missing a second-half penalty through Billy King but the Hungarian was left cursing a knee injury to Fraser Fyvie who was carried off just before the break.
Livingston started brightly and almost took the lead when Jackson Longridge’s effort got caught in the wind and almost sneaked inside Harry Lewis’ post, while Steven Boyd passed up a great chance to open his account at the club but couldn’t get the better of the keeper.
United grew into the game and took the lead midway through the first half when Paul McMullan’s low shot crept past back-up stopper Maley.
The midfielder waltzed his way into the heart of the Livi backline before firing through a ruck of bodies, with his effort appearing to catch the keeper by surprise before finding the net. The impressive McMullan then went close to doubling his side’s lead after neat link- up play with Scott Fraser, although they didn’t have to wait too long before making it two. Veteran Aussie striker Scott McDonald chipped in with a textbook close-range finish in 37 minutes from Jamie Robson’s cross. In first half injury-time, the visitors almost got back into the contest but Longridge, making his 100th appearance for the club, headed wide when found unmarked from a corner. Maley pulled off a stunning save early in the second half as he clawed away a McMullan effort from close range when the midfielder seemed destined to score. United were then gifted a penalty on 57 minutes as Maley took the feet from McDonald but he then redeemed himself by parrying away King’s timid attempt. That might have sparked a revival from Livi but nothing came of it as Laszlo’s men comfortably controlled the remainder of the contest, without creating too many more chances. With the game effectively wrapped The 4-1 win away at Dumbarton on Boxing Day means that Livi will go the whole of 2017 without losing two games in a row. up, the Arabs were content with simply seeing the game out and breaking up field when the opportunity presented itself.
They would notch a third, and the brilliant McMullan would get his second of the match with two minutes remaining to round off a great afternoon for the hosts.
Matty Smith, who was introduced for the injured Fyvie prior to the break, worked the ball out wide for King with his low drive being parried by Maley but McMullan was on hand to tap the ball home.
Disappointed Livingston boss David Hopkin commented: “We were annoyed with the first goal we lost because we gave their guy so much time. You just can’t afford to do that at a place like Tannadice.”
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