Match Report - St.Johnstone 1-2 Livingston

Match Preview

In the previous 23 meetings between these sides there had been 11 wins for St.Johnstone, 4 draws and 8 wins for Livingston. This proved to be a good indicator for today's game as from these stats alone you can see that the teams are definitely close in level, and the match was destined to be a scrap. A scrappy performance from both sides is exactly what we got.

Last time these sides met was a 2-0 win for 'Livi' at the tony macaroni who blitzed the 'saints' with two quick-fire goals during an otherwise un-inspiring encounter, which was over by the 35th minute with neither side ever really looking like they would score after the second goal. Conceding goals straight after kick-off has been a bizarre problem for Davidson's team this season and it was shown with the goals coming in the 34th and the 35th minutes. However this was on the 27th of September and then manager of Livingston Gary Holt has gone and St.Johnstone have enjoyed an 11 match unbeaten run. Today was a new game, although I have to say it was very similar to performances of the past for both sides.

[Tiffoney and Kerr challenge for the ball last time out]

Before today's game 'saints' sat one place in the table above the visitors to McDiarmid in 8th, with the team from West Lothian in 9th on 15 points. A win for the home side could've seen Davidson's men into the top 6, whereas a loss means that Livingston would leapfrog their opponents (and Kilmarnock) into 7th place.

The Match

The game got off to a good start from the Perth side who were passing the ball about with intent early doors and were enjoying the line share of possession, and were attempting to break down the resolute 'Livi' defence. Throughout the first half an hour though while they huffed and puffed the men in blue and white just could not get through and this resulted in a cagey affair. In the 30th minute however Chris Kane nearly grabbed his second goal in as many game (after last weeks heroics in paradise) but his effort crashed off of the bar after a neat delivery from Wotherspoon's corner. The rest of the half battled on with the odd effort going wide and a superb bit of defending from McCart to keep the sides on level terms. Going into the half you could say that the home team probably deserved a goal for their efforts, with the away side seeming uninspired and happy with a point.

This was clearly not the case as the Livingston team in their all black kit came out fighting (sometimes literally) and won a free-kick in the 47th minute from range, a good opportunity for a delivery into the box. And a delivery into the box they got. Man mountain John Guthrie got onto the end of a good delivery from Mullin and headed past a helpless Zander Clark. 0-1 to the visitors. The lead was not held for long though, as not even 7 minutes later an excellent David Wotherspoon cross found Kane who bundled it home and had the 'saints' level which few could argue would have been a fair result.

To the delight of Livingston fans across the country though, football doesn't care whats fair. Only 10 minutes after Kane's equaliser and St.Johnstone were pressing high up the field, and sloppy play in the middle of the park left them vulnerable. A well placed ball from Mullin found substitute Scott Robinson unmarked 1-on-1 with Clark who was caught in no-mans-land and a lovely finish past the keeper put Martindale's away side up. St.Johnstone found themselves behind at home for the 6th time at home this season and there would be no equaliser as there had been last time against Motherwell, to the delight of the new Livingston manager. The game seemed to just fade away, as 'Livi' looked comfortable defending what little attacking threat the men from Perth could muster. Full time and it was 2-1 to the visitors who take the 3 points back down to West Lothian.

This win for interim manager David Martindale shows that he is a clear candidate to take the hotseat permanently, while it is a kick in the teeth for opposition manager Davidson as he must feel that neither side really deserved to win the game and it must be devastating to lose the longest unbeaten run in the clubs top flight history in such a manner.This takes Livingston up to 7th in the table, whereas 'saints' drop down to 9th, although remaining only 3 points of off 6th place Dundee United.

Next up for the two managers are league cup quarter-finals midweek. St.Johnstone face in-form championship team Dunfermline away at East End Park on Tuesday night in what should be a close game, while Livingston take on Ross County as the Toni Macaroni , after the 'Staggie's' heroic victory in the last round at Celtic Park.

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