Livi come from behind ... twice

THE wait for a first victory of the season goes on for both these clubs. Motherwell and Livingston at least now have a point apiece to their names after losing their opening two fixtures of the season, although that served as scant consolation for home manager Stephen Robinson after watching his side twice move in front only to then be pegged back both times.

Not even having ended their two-game scoring drought was enough to appease Robinson, however, who singled out Allan Campbell – scorer of Motherwell’s second goal – for praise but was coruscating in his assessment of most of the rest of his team.

Motherwell take on in-form Hibernian at the weekend and it was clear from Robinson’s message that many of those who featured last night may not reappear for that one.

“We got a point but that was the only thing I was happy with,” said the manager.

“We battled and some players were at the top of their game, guys like Allan Campbell, who it means everything to them when they put that shirt on.

“Give me 11 Allan Campbells in the team. But I have been patient with players but some of them were told tonight in no uncertain terms we are playing with seven men each week.

“That won’t keep happening. People have bad games and make mistakes, but I saw some things tonight I simply won’t settle for. This club has been good to people, it’s rescued careers and given them a platform. I don’t know if they are listening to agents, getting their heads filled with rubbish.

“But they need to do it here before anyone leaves this football club. I am expecting a big reaction on Saturday.”

In contrast, Livingston manager Gary Holt’s main beef was that his team had not gone on to win the match after looking considerably more capable than they had in the feckless capitulation to Hibernian at the weekend.

“I’m over the moon with the team,” said Holt. “They showed the spirit that’s synonymous with us as a club. We talked

after Saturday’s game about taking the game by the scruff. Don’t just wait for a team-mate to do it. Go that extra yard, being prepared to be hurt, putting your body on the line.

“You see them in the dressing room and they’re knackered. They’re burst. And that’s what we want. I thought we probably deserved to win the game. To come away from home, concede two poor goals, and come back each time was great.”

It fell to Alan Forrest, a summer arrival from Ayr United, to earn Livingston the point, capping a fine individual performance with his first Livingston goal.

“His goal was a pro action – he sensed that the keeper might spill it and he could tap it in,” added Holt. “His workrate and third man runs off the line were superb.”

Livingston haven’t won away from home on grass for almost a year and had to dig deep to claim a point here after twice falling behind in the first half, the first after just eight minutes.

Sherwin Seedorf shovelled a lateral pass to David Turnbull and his low driven effort sped past Robby McCrorie. It was the midfielder’s first goal since a double also at home to Livingston in May 2019.

Livingston’s only bright spot at the weekend had been a Lyndon Dykes penalty that briefly stemmed the flow of Hibs pressure. That served only as mere consolation at the time but the same outcome here carried far greater weight.

Ricky Lamie – the former Livingston defender – was adjudged to have handled in the box just two minutes after Motherwell’s opener. And, just as he had done at the weekend, Dykes thrashed his penalty confidently down the middle.

Livingston were evidently bolstered by that immediate equaliser and set off in search of a second but found themselves behind again before the half-time whistle.

It was a goal similar to Motherwell’s opener, with the ball arriving at Campbell’s feet after Chris Long had knocked it in his path. The midfielder showed great composure before slotting his shot into the far corner of the net.

Robinson had urged his team to “be more streetwise” following Saturday’s defeat to Dundee United and so would have been pulling his hair out when Livingston equalised for a second time after 69 minutes.

Craig Sibbald’s cross was knocked away by Trevor Carson but only as far as Forrest who redirected it first time into the back of the net.