Livi gaffer plans to soak up latest triumph by going back in bath

had a pat on the back and a well done at half-time, then you go out there and come back in with regrets.’

“They’re a good side, I knew Robbo wouldn’t be happy. We were dictating the game, getting chance after chance, so expect a backlash and be at it from first whistle to last again. And we were.”

Motherwell were anonymous in the first half and arguably worse in the second – with the exception of keeper Mark Gillespie.

The absence of James Scott would have been a blow, cushioned obviously by the mill and a half in the bank, but he wasn’t the reason they were second to every ball.

Livi were terrific from middle to front – their movement, tempo and ball retention all excellent as they bounced off and around striker Dykes as their focal point. Their only problem was coming up against an almost immovable object.

The Well No.1 was on fire. He clawed a Dykes header out at the far post, spread himself brilliantly to deny Scott Pittman, beat out a fierce snap volley on the angle from

Scott Robinson and his handling from cross balls under incessant pressure from Dykes was flawless.

Not a word that could be applied to those in front of him.

After the break the big Englishman bravely thwarted Marvin Bartley in a crunching 50/50.

But the goal was always coming and he was f inally beaten in the 67th minute when Taylor-Sinclair barrelled a header through him at the back post from Ciaron Brown’s long throw. Despite Livi’s superiority, Well almost levelled in injury time, Peter Hartley’s effort smashing off the post.

Had it gone in it would have been one of the injustices of the season.

Holt’s only gripe was bookings for Bartley, No. 2 Davie Mar tindale and himself by John Beaton.

He said: “Davie threw his hat aggressively towards the wall – I’ll have to speak to him about that because it’s good kit.

“I got done for remonstrating when Lyndon was clean through and John pulled it back for a free-kick.

“I also thought it was an exceptional tackle by Marvin but John thought otherwise.”