BATTLING SPIRIT RESCUES SAINTS
Managerless Buddies make their point and stun Livi
THEY have lost their manager but maintained some credit on the pitch. It has been a manic end to the week for St Mirren but, momentarily, they can take a deep breath.
Still coming to terms with the departure of Jim Goodwin as he filled the vacancy at Aberdeen, it would have been understandable for the Paisley men to be feeling mixed emotions.
Whatever state they were in, they huffed, puffed and secured a point here to extend their unbeaten run to eight games since the start of the year.
The foundations of that run were built by Goodwin, whose new role at Pittodrie was confirmed yesterday morning.
Saints are made of stern stuff these days. This was a new type of challenge to overcome but they are progressing and now await a new man to fill the hotseat.
The Buddies were rocking when Livingston took the lead at the start of the second half thanks to Saints captain Joe Shaughnessy’s own goal but the visitors rallied and levelled through Greg Kiltie’s strike.
Charles Dunne saw red to put his team on the back foot again as Livi threatened to seal victory.
However, under the guidance of an interim management team, led by goalkeeping coach Jamie Langfield, St Mirren took a point.
There is little time to rest, though, as the names of Scott Brown, Steven Naismith and Jack Ross continue to swirl around ahead of their next managerial appointment.
Livingston had offered over 3,000 free tickets to the local community ahead of this game, so the atmosphere was boosted and those who filled the stands were almost cheering inside 13 minutes.
Nicky Devlin burst down the right and slipped the ball to Bruce Anderson but the striker skewed his shot wide of target.
Livi threatened again when defender Ayo Obileye met Alan Forrest’s corner but his header dropped onto the roof of the net.
The hosts almost found the crucial breakthrough seven minutes before the break. Scott Pittman’s lay-off found Jason Holt, whose curling effort from 20 yards was held by St Mirren keeper Jak Alnwick.
Just before half-time, Livi captain Devlin was ready to race through on goal but referee Willie Collum halted play for a head knock sustained by Saints striker Alex Greive. The decision left the home team furious.
Livingston emerged after the break and looked likeliest to score. Forrest jinked his way into the box and attempted a shot but his effort was deflected. However, the ball fell kindly for Joel Nouble at the back post but his effort flew wide.
That miss proved to merely delay the celebrations for the hosts as they took the lead on 55 minutes in bizarre circumstances.
Devlin swung in a delivery which was met by Anderson, whose effort from close range crashed off the post. The ball then hit Saints skipper Shaughnessy as he fell to the ground with the striker and it found the net.
The Buddies had been poor as an attacking threat and looked a little lost in their attempts to respond. Their interim coaching team opted to stick with one man up top as Curtis Main came off the bench to replace Greive.
But Saints were back in the game with 12 minutes remaining. Substitute Scott Tanser’s corner was headed into the mix at the far post by Marcus Fraser. Livi claimed for handball as Saints ushered the ball out to Kiltie at the edge of the box and he let fly through a host of bodies to draw the visitors level.
Alas, St Mirren’s joy turned to despair five minutes later as Dunne was sent packing for appearing to catch Livingston sub Sebastian Soto, who was making his debut on loan from Norwich, with an arm as he watched a high ball.
Things almost got a whole lot worse for Saints with another strange moment.
Fraser’s clearance in the six-yard box hit team-mate Richard Tait and only Alnwick’s sharp reactions prevented a calamitous own goal.
‘We got behind St Mirren about eight times but our final decision making is not right just now,’ said Livi boss David Martindale.
‘We got a fortuitous goal but we deserved it because it was good play. I’m bitterly disappointed because it was a chance to get us in the top six.
‘We are unbeaten in three games over ten days and I should be happy. But I’m not because we have dropped four points and we are out of the Scottish Cup. 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.’
Martindale was also left frustrated by some of his club’s own fans, with some youngsters running onto the pitch at full-time.
‘The fans behind the goal stole about 20 balls,’ he added. ‘We will get fined now because the fans were on the pitch.
‘We will get hammered. I know it’s kids but it annoys me. It seems to be becoming a thing. But it was a bonus to see a lot of fans in the stadium.’
LIVINGSTON (4-3-3): Stryjek; Devlin, Fitzwater, Obileye (Boyes 75), Penrice; Pittman, Holt, Omeonga; Forrest, Anderson (Soto 75), Nouble (Shinnie 75).
Subs not used: Maley, Longridge, McMillan, Kelly, Montano, Sibbald.
Booked: Nouble, Penrice.
ST MIRREN (4-2-3-1): Alnwick; Fraser, Shaughnessy, Dunne, Tait; Power, Gogic (Henderson 64); Kiltie, Ronan, Jones (Tanser 76); Greive (Main 71).
Subs not used: Lyness, Flynn, McCarthy, Erhahon, Millar.
Booked: None. Sent off: Dunne.
Referee: Willie Collum. Attendance: 4,228.