Goals galore for rampant Lions
Livi fire four past dismal Dundee on Miller’s return
Livingston eased to their largest-ever home victory in the top flight as four goals from set-plays saw the Lions run rampant.
It was a day to forget for new Dundee manager Jim McIntyre on his debut – and ex-Livi boss Kenny Miller who contributed little on his return to the Tony Macaroni Arena.
Gary Holt named the same starting line- up for the sixth consecutive game and you’d get short odds on there being any changes when St Johnstone visit West Lothian next week given the emphatic nature of the performance by the hosts.
The visitors, sitting at the foot of the table, no doubt expected there to be an upturn in displays following the change in manager and that appeared likely in the opening stages with the Dees shading the opening 15 minutes.
Kenny Miller had the first real chance of the game after a brilliant counterattacking run from Calvin Miller saw the Dees defender take the ball some 50 yards upfield before teeing up his namesake, who saw his curling effort from the edge of the box go narrowly wide.
Calvin Miller was proving a threat down the left and he played in Benjamin Kallman, only for the Finn to drag his effort wide.
Moments later, Livi took the lead through Declan Gallagher when the ex- Dundee man nodded home a Keaghan Jacobs’ free-kick at the back post for his first goal in 18 months.
Jacobs then fizzed an effort from 20 yards that had Elliot Parish scrambling in the Dundee goal but it went inches wide of the woodwork on the half-hour mark as the hosts looked to extend their lead.
Liam Kelly had precious little to do in the Livi goal but was alert when called upon, making a fine instinctive save just before the break when Ryan Innis got a touch on Calvin Miller’s cornerkick with the big defender hoping to tap home the leveller. They would be made to rue that as Livi made it two barely a minute later when a Jacobs’ free-kick from just inside the Dundee half was flicked home by Craig Halkett as once again the away side’s defending at set-plays left a lot to be desired. Chances were few and far between in the second half, but that suited Livi down to the ground. Halkett’s looping header on 70 minutes was the first genuine chance either teams could muster after the break.
The Lions made it three on 76 minutes when a Steven Lawless effort from out on the right deceived everyone and nestled in the far corner.
They weren’t finished there and completed the rout in the final minute.
Alan Lithgow, who barely featured under Miller, will no doubt have savoured his moment as he nodded a Steve Lawson corner-kick home at the back post.
Livingston manager Gary Holt was delighted with his player’s desire to get on to the end of balls into the box.
He said: “We scored at good times and had great set-plays. We’ve got boys who will go and get hurt and put their bodies on the line in both boxes.
“You have to put yourself in the position to try and score a goal from setplays knowing it could go off the side of your head and everyone’s laughing at you. We’ve got guys who will do that.”