Holt heartened by squad depth after strong show

Livingston manager Gary Holt said taking on the bottom six’ s best side was the ideal way to test the strength of his squad for next season.

Holt made six changes for the meeting with St Johnstone and after seeing his revamped team go behind to Michael O’halloran’s superb fourth-minute opener, he was rewarded with a point following a sensational late equaliser from skipper Craig Halkett.

Halkett, who has agreed to join Hearts this summer, is one of a numb er of play - ers set to leave the club, with fellow defender De clan Gallagher joining Mother well and speculation surrounding the future of goalkeeper Liam Kelly.

Kelly was consigned to the bench so that Holt could assess back-up goalie Ross Stewart on his de but, while there was also a first start in over four months for striker Lee Miller following injury.

Holt said: “I couldn’t have told you it was six changes but I’m fortunate enough in the position we’re in that I can have a look at boys.

“Coming to the team that’s top of our pile, away from home, is going to be a test and that’s why we did it. And, to a man, I thought they stood up to it, I thought they were excellent.

“It shows you can’t rest on your laurels if you’re in the starting 11 because you’ ve got boys who are hungry and wanting to play. Everybody showed they want to play at this level.”

St John stone manager Tommy Wright said: “It was disappointing at the throwin [before their goal]. That’s when I need somebody to take leadership and organise it a little bit better. I need some - body to have a calm head and see where the problem was. The problem was we wanted spare men in the box and we didn’t need that.”