Livi’s great run ends as Saints win Hampden rehearsal
Two goals from set-plays sink Martindale’s heroes
LIVINGSTON ............................................. 1 ST JOHNSTONE ........................................ 2 Livingston’s remarkable unbeaten run came to an end as they suffered a first defeat in 15 games in a preview of the Betfred Cup final later this month.
It was a case of the visitors beating the Lions at their own game with two set-play goals proving to be the difference at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
Scott Tanser’s wonderful free-kick from 20 yards opened the scoring with the last action of the first half, before Shaun Rooney rose the highest to nod home a Liam Craig setpiece in the early stages of the second half.
A lacklustre Livi display was given a boost 13 minutes from time when Max Stryjek saved a Stevie May penalty before Scott Pittman reduced the arrears with a neat header six minutes later.
A frantic push for a share of the spoils fell short, though, as David Martindale suffered defeat for the first time in his managerial career.
Livingston made three changes to the side that had defeated Aberdeen with Julien Serrano (self-isolating) and Josh Mullin (back injury) unavailable, while Jay Emmanuel-Thomas dropped to the bench.
In came Marvin Bartley, Alan Forrest and Scott Robinson.
Aaron Taylor-Sinclair, who stepped in after the warm-up against the Dons due
to an injury to Jon Guthrie, remained in the heart of the Lions’ defence alongside Efe Ambrose with Guthrie remaining sidelined but was unable to replicate his impressive display at Pittodrie.
The visitors could have opened the lead inside two minutes when a deep corner from David Wotherspoon to the back post was volleyed over from a tight angle by Jason Kerr.
As expected, it was a spirited battle with no quarters asked or given and the game was played at 100mph from the off.
Despite the action constantly going from one end to the other, that early chance represented the only effort in the opening
half-hour with both defences flinging themselves at everything that came their way.
Livi’s first chance of note arrived 10 minutes before the break when Scott Robinson nodded Stryjek’s long freekick into the path of Pittman but the midfielder’s volley was both high and wide.
Without Mullin, the home side’s setpieces were poor. The same can’t be said for St Johnstone, though.
They took the lead with the final kick of the first half as Tanser wonderfully curled a free-kick over the wall and into the corner after Taylor-Sinclair’s mistimed challenge on Chris Kane.
Martindale introduced EmmanuelThomas at half-time but the striker had barely touched the ball before the home side’s task became even more difficult.
Craig’s long free-kick into the box was flicked into the net by Rooney just six minutes after the break as the Perth outfit doubled their lead.
The Lions lacked creativity all afternoon with the Saints looking the most likely to find the net again.
Wotherspoon tried his luck from 20 yards midway through the second-half but Stryjek was more than a match.
At the other end, Emmanuel-Thomas will feel he should have done better
moments later when he got on the end of an Ambrose cross but he failed to test Zander Clark.
Substitute May was presented with a perfect chance to put the game beyond doubt on 77 minutes as Rooney was clattered inside the box by Nicky Devlin. However, he blasted the spot-kick right down the middle with Stryjek, diving to his left, able to save with his legs.
That seemed to provide the spark the Lions needed as six minutes later they were back in the match as Pittman’s header from a Jason Holt cross sneaked inside the far post.
The home side threw everyone forward and nearly grabbed a late leveller but Robinson wasn’t able to get enough power on his header as the game entered injurytime and with it went the unbeaten run.
Livingston striker Scott Robinson is hoping he can celebrate his SPFL Premiership Player of the Month award by putting pen to paper on a new deal.
The 28-year-old’s contract is up at the end of the season but he says he’s keen to extend his four-year spell at the club beyond the summer.
Having featured largely as a versatile squad player able to play across the midfield and up front during his first three-and-a-half years in West Lothian, Robinson has enjoyed a new lease of life as the lone striker under David Martindale and reaped the rewards.
He netted three goals in January, including firing the Lions into the Betfred Cup final with the only goal of the game against St Mirren in the semi.
He said: “I’m out of contract in a couple of months. I’ve been chatting about a new deal and I’m positive about that.
“Hopefully we can get it done. It would be nice to get a new contract.
“I’m really happy here. I love being at this club and I love the boys in the dressing room.
“The boys have been saying to me to put an extra zero on that contract now I’ve won the player of the month award.
“We’ve been on a great run as a team and I’m the lucky one who got to pick up the award at the end of the month. But it’s been a collective effort.”
He added: “I think we are in a really good place right now and I hope we can keep progressing.
“I’m delighted in my form. I’m delighted to play in the position I am now in. I feel very comfortable there. I think it’s my best position and the team gets the best out of me there.
“Hopefully I can continue to play there and keep scoring goals and see where it takes us as a club.”
Manager David Martindale, who scooped a second consecutive Manager of the Month award, admits he’ll likely have to wait until he has a definitive budget for next term before sitting down with the former Hearts man but is confident he can be kept at the club.
He said: “It’s difficult financially just now because when are fans going to return? Originally when the pandemic happened I was thinking probably around January.
“Then you’re looking at the start of next season, now you’re thinking maybe September.
“It’s difficult, especially with Robbo, as it’s obvious we’re going to have to give him an improved contract.
“To do that I need to know my budget but the board needs to know where the money is coming from. You’re in a Catch-22 position like everyone else.”
He added: “Robbo is a great lad and we’ll try and sort it out as soon as possible when the board give me an indication.
“Maybe if we get top-six it’s something we can look at as finances are set in stone a wee bit more.”