Scott steals the show in Livi victory
Youngster helps Lions climb to eighth
Scott Tiffoney stole the show for the Lions with a quickfire goal and assist to lift them off the foot of the table.
Now in his third season with the club, the striker was starting consecutive games for the first time and proved his worth with a fine performance as he calmly slotted home the opener on 34 minutes before teeing up Alan Forrest a minute later for Livi’s second.
The victory sees the Lions climb four places in the Premiership table to a seasonhigh eighth place.
Boss Gary Holt heaped praise on the youngster, saying: “It was two very good goals and great play. Wee Tiff took it really well.
“I’m delighted for him to get a goal and his link-up play was brilliant as well for the second, a great finish.”
The Lions made two changes to the side that was edged out at Celtic Park the previous week.
Tiffoney retained his place as the focal point of the attack while a switch to the usual back four saw Ciaron Brown drop to the bench.
Craig Sibbald was the other to miss out, with Forrest and Scott Robinson being recalled.
Jason Holt had the game’s first decent chance when a throw-in was cleared by the Saints defence into his path on the edge of the box but he fired high and wide.
Both sides struggled to get a foothold in the game with the visitors not fashioning a chance until the 17th minute when a free- kick as headed on by former Lion Murray Davidson only for Stevie May to meekly poke over the bar.
The poor start to the game was summed up midway through the first half when Craig Conway got into a decent position only to blast his effort almost out of the stadium.
Moments later, Conway turned provider as Robby McCrorie made a smart instinctive close range after May got on the end of the winger’s delivery.
The game swung dramatically in the home side’s favour as they netted twice in quick succession just after the half hour.
Tiffoney stole the ball from Michael O’Halloran after the Saints man failed to deal with McCrorie’s ball up the park.
He was then teed up by Nicky Devlin before some composed passing inside the box saw Tiffoney teed up and he duly drove the ball across Zander Clark and for his first goal of the season.
Barely a minute later, the striker collected the ball on the left wing and played in Forrest who saw his wonderful curling effort find the bottom corner beyond the diving Clark.
The Lions would masterfully manage the second half, surviving a lone scare on 72 minutes when Holt headed a Callum Hendry effort off the line.
There was another positive for the hosts with Steve Lawson returning from injury for the final 20 minutes as they saw out the game to grab three vital points.
Holt added: “I thought we got what we deserved. I think in the majority of the games this season we’ve had a lot of possession and chances but not been clinical enough and have been punished.
“I’m really pleased we’ve taken the chances and even happier that people put their bodies on the line, putting their heads in where it gets hurt - that is what is synonymous with us.
“I just felt it’s been coming and I keep telling the players the harder you work the luckier you’ll get and that’s how it played out.”