GREIVE STRIKES LATE AS 10-MAN SAINTS KEEP MARCHING ON
ST MIRREN are up to third in the Premiership table after a remarkable second half in Paisley that was as eventful as the first period had been poor.
Neither of these teams have drawn a match so far this season but that looked the most likely outcome, after the humdrum opening period and then when Bruce Anderson had bundled Livingston level with just four minutes remaining.
A draw was the least that David Martindale’s side deserved for being the better side in an attritional contest but they would be suckered in the final minute of a second-half rich in incident and controversy.
Saints were down to 10 men by that point, Jonah Ayunga sent off for a full-length save that kept out Scott Pittman’s driven effort and earned the striker a red card.
Sean Kelly missed the subsequent penalty and there would be additional heartache for Livingston late on.
Joe Shaughnessy’s effort from a corner was blocked but fell kindly for Alex Greive who swivelled before applying a low finish to give St Mirren an unlikely winner.
This was far from an impressive performance from Stephen Robinson’s men but they did enough to grind out a victory when it had looked beyond them. Their incredible start to the season continues.
‘It wasn’t attractive but if you are going to stay in the top six you have to win games like that and dig it out,’ said the manager.
‘We were better after their equaliser. When they scored we turned up a gear, passing it around, getting balls into the box.
‘Character is the word I would use to sum it up. It wasn’t an attractive game of football but the weather didn’t help. We matched Livingston and outbattled them, which is rare.’
This was tough on the visitors who fared better for most spells in difficult conditions but paid the price for that penalty miss and then not seeing the game out in the closing seconds.
Little wonder that Martindale pounded the table in frustration as he sat down later to talk about it.
‘We got the ball and progressed it well into wide areas,’ said the Livingston manager.
‘But if you want something to sum the game up, they defended their box better than us. That’s really what it comes down to.’
The strong wind made every
high ball a lottery and threatened to embarrass both goalkeepers.
St Mirren’s Trevor Carson had to look lively to push Joel Nouble’s swirling delivery over the top before Shamal George had to react quickly at the other end to prevent Scott Tanser from scoring from a corner.
The Livingston goalkeeper could only punch it so far, however, and Alex Gogic should have done better than volley his effort high into the stand.
The best chance of a tame first half fell to Scott Pittman. Normally Livingston’s Mr Reliable, the midfielder was quick to capitalise on Charles Dunne’s mistake but couldn’t get his shot beyond
Carson who made a smart save.
Livingston continued to look the brighter team at the start of the second half — only to fall behind.
Ryan Flynn, on as a replacement for Ryan Strain — who had lasted just seven minutes as a substitute himself — crossed for Keanu Baccus to head home.
That was just the start of the drama, however.
Sean Kelly’s penalty miss seemed to leave Livingston floundering but they found an equaliser when Anderson bundled in Nouble’s cross with four minutes remaining.
St Mirren, to their credit, didn’t fold after that blow.
And after Shaughnessy’s shot was saved, Greive was alert enough to turn and fire the rebound into the net.
ST MIRREN (3-5-2): Carson; Gogic (Strain 59, Flynn 67), Gallagher, Dunne; Fraser, Baccus (Shaughnessy 74), Erhahon, O’Hara, Tanser; Kiltie (Greive 59), Ayunga.
Subs (not used): Urminsky, Henderson, Reid, Taylor, Kenny. Booked: Gallagher, Baccus.
Sent off: Ayunga, LIVINGSTON (3-5-2): George; Devlin, Obileye, Sean Kelly (Shinnie 81); Bahamboula, Holt, Pittman, Omeonga (Stephen Kelly 72), Penrice (Anderson 72); Guthrie, Nouble.
Subs (not used): Konovalov, Longridge, Brandon, Boyles, Cancar, Hamilton. Booked: Bahamboula. Referee: Craig Napier. Attendance: 5,366.