Livi boss lets Bruce loose against Saints
Martindale reckons striker was back at his best
Livingston boss David Martindale says striker Bruce Anderson was back to his best despite failing to find the net in their win over St Johnstone.
The 24-year-old was recalled to the starting line-up after having to make do with a place on the bench in consecutive 3-0 defeats at St Mirren and Motherwell in their previous two fixtures.
And the former Aberdeen man was the star of the show for the Lions with an exquisite defence-splitting pass to send Joel Nouble through for the opener on 23 minutes before winning the free-kick that was curled home from 25 yards by Stephen Kelly just before the interval.
He also teed up Steven Bradley to fid the net unmarked at the back post, only to have been ruled out for offside.
The win keeps Livi’s hopes of a top six finish alive as they travel to Tannadice on Saturday knowing only a win will do – and that must be coupled with either St Mirren losing at home to Kilmarnock or Hibs dropping points away to struggling St Johnstone.
Martindale saidd: “I think in Bruce Anderson, I felt that I had my Livingston No.9 back on the park.
“It’s a side of the game that he’s got to get better at. I know he’ll score goals and he’s always good in and around the box, but I speak to him quite a bit and we do a lot of work with him before training.
“A Livingston striker maybe scores one every four games. It’s about what are you doing in the other three games? I thought his all-round link-up play was fantastic and his application in the press was fantastic.
“He sets up the first goal, wins the freekick for the second and sets up Bradley for the offside goal. I thought he was brilliant.
“He’ll be devastated he’s not scored but I’m absolutely delighted with him.”
It was a much-needed three points for the Lions, who were boosted by a bumper crowd thanks to over 4000 free tickets being handed out to the local community.
And the players ensured they gave them something to cheer. They started brightly and twice went close in the opening five minutes as Bradley dragged wide before Nouble’s attempted lob over Remi Matthews moments later had the keeper at full stretch.
They deservedly got themselves in front midway through the first half as Anderson’s clever pass sent Nouble through between the Saints centre-backs before he calmly curled beyond Matthews for his seventh of the campaign.
Anderson thought he had a second assist 10 minutes later as he got in behind the defence and squared for Bradley to roll the ball home but the former was ruled to be offside following a VAR check.
The home fans didn’t have to wait long to celebrate, though, as they doubled their advantage seven minutes before the break when the striker was brought down 25 yards from goal.
Stephen Kelly duly curled home an absolute peach that kissed the inside of the woodwork.
The hosts started the second-half brightly but it was St Johnstone who created the first real chance and it should have been buried as Graham Carey somehow managed to blast over the bar when found unmarked 10 yards out.
Livi had chances to bury the game shortly after as they continued to waltz through the Saints backline.
A wonderful passing move down the right flank ended with Cristian Montano taking a bad touch when he looked set to score, while Anderson couldn’t connect properly on a Kelly cutback.
Having previously squandered a glorious opportunity, Carey must have thought he’d dragged his team back into the clash 10 minutes from time when his angled drive appeared headed for the net – only for Morgan Boyes to hook the ball off the line as they comfortably saw out the remainder of the contest to keep their season alive.