Martindale left irked again as Livi spurn chances
AIDAN MacDONALD
DAVID MARTINDALE cut a frustrated figure following Livingston’s draw with St Mirren after his side conceded late on at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
The Lions had largely dominated what proved to be a scrappy affair, with the Buddies only managing one shot on target during the 90 minutes.
The Livi boss felt it was a missed opportunity for his side to make it into the top six of the cinch Premiership.
“I’m really disappointed, that’s three games where I could say we are three games unbeaten,” he said. “We go out of the Scottish Cup against Hearts at Tynecastle on penalties but kept a clean sheet.
“We had more than enough chances to win at Ross County but came away with one point as opposed to three.
“Now today we created the better chances and we have to have more composure in the final third.”
The opening 15 minutes of the match were relatively equal with neither goalkeeper having much to do.
The first chance came from good play by Lions captain Nicky Devlin after 12 minutes as he played in the ball for striker Bruce Anderson but the forward put his attempt wide.
There were then efforts from Stephane Omeonga and Ayo
Obileye that crept just over the bar. St Mirren offered little in the first half, not even registering one shot on target.
After a quiet start to the second half, the game then came alive in the last 25 minutes.
First there was a goal by Anderson for Livingston on 55 minutes after great linkup play from Jon Nouble and Devlin as the skipper got to the byline and fired across goal for the striker’s initial effort to hit the post before rebounding back off him into the net.
The goal was cancelled out by a strike by Greg Kiltie and then St Mirren defender Charles Dunne was sent off five minutes from time for a challenge on substitute Sebastian Sotto.
After the match interim Buddies boss Jamie Langfield, who was taking charge after Jim
Goodwin departed for Aberdeen, admitted his team were second best.
He said: “Livingston were better than us. But to keep our unbeaten run going, especially after the last couple of days, is testament to the players.
“Over the piece, Davie will probably feel a bit aggrieved that he’s not taken three points. Our boys battled and got us a point.
“It’s been a bit more hectic and all over the place. We’ll take that as coaching staff and that’s solely on us.”
The match marked Martindale’s 50th league game in charge of Livingston, but from the coach’s reaction, it will not be an anniversary to remember.
He added: “I had a bit of a go at the forwards as I believe they have to do more. They have to be more clinical but at no point did I feel under pressure by St Mirren.”