FIVE IN A WOE FROM SPOT ANGERS LIVI BOSS
DAVID MARTINDALE admitted he is running out of solutions to Livingston’s spot-kick woe after his side missed two penalties in yesterday’s draw with Motherwell. With captain Nicky Devlin bungling two first-half penalties, the Lions have now missed five successive spot-kicks, and seven in total for the campaign. It is a litany of errors that is frustrating their manager and costing valuable points.
Morgan Boyes did give Livi the opener shortly before the break but the lead lasted just three minutes before Kevin Van Veen rattled in a leveller that ensured it was a point apiece for two sides who have still not tasted victory since before the World Cup. ‘We have to do much better,’ said Martindale, whose side nonetheless moved back into the top six.
‘That’s far too many missed opportunities via penalty kicks. I’ll be putting my boots on next. I’ve never missed from 12 yards — it’s 12 yards unopposed! Nicky was the designated taker. ‘We have done a bit of work on it at training but that’s clearly not worked. I won’t be doing that again.’ VAR has endured some teething troubles since being introduced into Scottish football and here was another exhibit with which opponents could bash the system. Confusion reigned as Livi were awarded two penalties and were denied the opening goal in the space of six bamboozling minutes at the hands of officialdom.
Devlin saw his early penalty saved by Liam Kelly before bundling in the rebound. With the ball having apparently struck Devlin’s hand on the way over the line, the goal was ruled out but, following a lengthy VAR check, Livi were instead handed a second chance from the spot because Kelly had come off his line to make the initial save.
Devlin again failed to convert as Kelly guessed the right way once more. The home side did recover to make the breakthrough in the 39th minute, though, and it was the simplest of goals. Stephen Kelly floated over a free-kick from the left and Boyes drifted free at the back post to loop a header back across goal and into the back of the net. However, the Lions’ lead was short-lived as Motherwell recovered to haul themselves back level in the 42nd minute. Shamal George got a strong hand to a Sean Goss effort and Van Veen did brilliantly to hook the rebound into the unguarded net.
Motherwell struck the crossbar twice early in the second half as both sides sought the advantage of the next goal. In the 48th minute, the Dutchman really should have scored from close range as Connor Shields battled hard to win possession in the home box and, just after the hour mark, Shields’ flashing shot from an acute angle kissed the woodwork before striking Boyes on its way past.
‘It was frustrating because we came here to win the game,’ said Motherwell manager Steven Hammell.’
LIVINGSTON (4-3-3): George 6; Devlin 6, Obileye 5, Boyes, 6, Montaño 5 (Bradley 46); Stephen Kelly 6, Sean Kelly 5, Shinnie 6; Bahamboula 5 (Omeonga 60), Anderson 6 (Goncalves 89), Penrice 5. Subs not used: Hamilton, Konovalov, Longridge, Fitzwater, Cancar.
Booked: Montaño, Omeonga.
MOTHERWELL (4-3-3): Kelly 7; McGinn 6, Johansen 6, Lamie 6, Penney 6; Cornlelius 5, Goss 5, Slattery 5; Shields 6, Van Veen 7, Spittal 6. Subs not used: Ocborough, O’Donnell, Maguire, Tierney, Speirs, Blaney, Miller, Ross. Booked: Slattery, Goss.
Man of the match: Liam Kelly.
Referee: David Munro. Attendance: 2,163.