Game‘wasn’t the nicest on the eye’ says Martindale
Livingston boss David Martindale joked that he was relieved his side grabbed a late leveller against St Johnstone – because it meant they didn’t need to offer a refund to fans.
The Lions and St Johnstone played out a borefest at the Tony Macaroni Arena with the game eventually bursting into life in the latter stages.
Glenn Middleton nodded the visitors in front on 76 minutes with a header at the back post but the home side ensured a share of the spoils as Jack Fitzwater levelled things up in the 90th minute.
The defender poked the ball home from close range after Zander Clark had produced a great save to deny Scott Pittman.
Martindale commented:“The game had 0-0 written all over it all day long and if that had happened I’d have been worried that the fans would be asking for their money back.
“We didn’t defend the back post and conceded. I really need to credit St Johnstone who pressed us well and
limited our attempts to try and play.
“We looked a wee bit lethargic in the first half but in the second half we started better.”
He added:“When we lost the goal we shoved two boys up top and earned our just reward.
“We work a quick free-kick – Jason Holt’s ball’s tremendous, Scott Pittman runs fantastically and Jack Fitzwater does really well.
“Clark pulls off a really good save but Fitzwater follows the ball in. It was a decent goal from our point of view and I’m happy to get a point.
“The fans managed to see two goals so they can’t ask for their money back now.”
The draw took the Lions onto 45 points, which matches last season’s total and represents the second highest figure in a top flight campaign for the club.
Martindale admitted he’s pleased with that achievement but is still frustrated at missing out on the top six.
He commented:“We’re sitting on 45 points, it’s just a wee bit unfortunate that they came after matchday 33 and we’re not in the top six.
“We’ve achieved the objectives for the season from Livingston Football Club’s point of view and it’s up to me to manage it and try to maintain these standards.
“Fair play to the lads because they fought really hard to get back into the game. We got a point but it wasn’t the nicest on the eye.”