Sloppy start leaves Livi too much to do
Match Facts Livingston fell out of the top six and were replaced by Kilmarnock after they went down 2-1 at Rugby Park.
Two sloppy goals allowed Angelo Alessio’s men to take all three points, with Gary Dicker and Rory McKenzie both making the most of slack defending.
However, Lee Miller set up a grandstand finish as he cut the deficit in half with six minutes remaining.
There would be no late drama, though, as Livi fell to their fourth league defeat in five games and left boss Gary Holt frustrated.
He said: “We prepared the players right but we gave away two soft goals. I feel for my keeper because he’s not had a save to make yet lost two goals.
“You can’t give a team a two-goal start then think ‘We’ll have a go now’. It’s not acceptable.”
An error-strewn opening 15 minutes was dominated by Livi, who were unable to turn their possession into clear-cut chances.
Without a save made in 38 turgid minutes the game finally delivered the breakthrough.
Chris Burke’s free-kick from the right was headed on by Mohamed El Makrini towards Dicker lurking in space.
With time to take a touch and steady himself, the Killie captain made no mistake with a smart finish across keeper Matija Sarkic.
The home side added to their lead in 56 minutes. Stephen O’Donnell showed a burst of pace to cut inside and set up Eamonn Brophy, whose quickfire turn and shot was blocked.
With the ball loose and looping in the air, McKenzie met the drop on the volley with a crisp strike that went in off Nicky Devlin.
That setback prompted Holt into making changes. He hooked Scott Robinson and Steven Lawless for Miller and Alan Lithgow, while Killie swapped El Makrini with Liam Millar.
Miller soon made his presence felt, first copping a booking for leading with his forearm in an aerial tussle with Dario del Fabro.
Then in 70 minutes the veteran hitman played a key role as the visitors twice came close to clawing a goal back.
His unselfish knock-down fell neatly to Marvin Bartley, who unleashed a powerful effort on the half-volley, well saved by Laurentiu Branescu dropping to his right.
From the following throw-in, tossed long by Lithgow, Bartley was thwarted again – this time by the bar – with a backward header.
Del Fabro could have ended it as a contest in 77 minutes when he spun away from Lithgow but fluffed his effort straight at the keeper.
That miss looked a lot more costly as Livingston hauled themselves back within touching distance with six minutes left.
Devlin’s volley across goal found sub striker Miller in the danger area and he steered it home.
But there would be no second goal for the Lions as the Ayrshire men held on to secure the win.
You can’t give a team a two-goal start then think ‘We’ll have a go now’. It’s not acceptable.