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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Callum Carson

Livingston forced to settle for draw after conceding late against St Mirren

Livingston were forced to settle for a draw at home to St Mirren as a late Buddies leveller ensured a 1-1 draw at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

Despite controlling much of the first half, Livi were unable to find a breakthrough but would eventually open the scoring on 55 minutes in bizarre fashion.

Nicky Devlin's cross into the box was met by Bruce Anderson, who saw his initial effort hit the post only for the rebound to hit back off him and roll into the net.

The hosts were unable to find a second and that would prove crucial as St Mirren - just hours removed from Jim Goodwin taking over as Aberdeen manager - levelled things up with their only shot on target.

A corner-kick was dealt with properly and fell to Greg Kiltie who slammed home from the edge of the box on 78 minutes.

Livi were handed a boost seven minutes from time when St Mirren were reduced to 10 men following Charles Dunne's elbow on Sebastian Soto but they were unable to find a winner.

Livingston boss David Martindale elected for the same starting line-up as last week's Scottish Cup penalty shoot-out loss to Hearts, while American striker Sebastian Soto made the matchday squad for the first time since his loan move from Norwich City.

Both sides looked to get on the front foot early on with Jordan Jones hitting the side-netting for the Buddies while at the other end Anderson could only fire wide from a Nicky Devlin cutback after neat play from the hosts had sent the captain into space down the right wing.

Stephane Omeonga was next to have a go but his strike from 25 yards was both high and wide. The hosts were creating the better chances and went close to opening the scoring midway through the first half but Ayo Obileye's header from a corner-kick went inches over the bar.

Livi would see plenty of the ball but on numerous occasions play was just too slow to really cut open the Buddies. Jason Holt produced the game's first shot on target seven minutes before the break when his curling strike from the edge of the box was comfortably dealt with by Jak Alnwick.

Whatever Martindale said at half-time seemed to work as the hosts instantly had much more urgency about their play - and it paid dividends 10 minutes after the restart.

Devlin's enticing delivery into the box was fired towards goal by Anderson. The initial effort clattered the woodwork but the rebound bounced back off the Livi striker as he was tumbling to the ground and into the net as the Lions took the lead in bizarre fashion.

St Mirren struggled to recover from that blow - but the hosts were unable to make the swing in momentum count as they failed to test Alnwick again despite having plenty of attacking possession.

They would be made to pay for the 12 minutes from time as the Buddies equalised with their first shot on target. a half-cleared corner fell kindly to Kiltie on the edge of the box with the winger fizzing an unstoppable effort beyond Max Stryjek.

The game swung in Livi's favour once more five minutes later when Dunne saw red for an elbow on Sebastian Soto - with Alnwick producing a stunning instinct save from the resulting free-kick when Forrest's delivery deflected off a St Mirren defender.

The hosts would fling everything forward in search for a winner that wouldn't arrive as they had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Livingston: Stryjek; Devlin, Obileye (Boyes 74), Fitzwater, Penrice; Omeonga, Holt, Pittman; Forrest, Anderson (Soto 74), Nouble (Shinnie 74). Subs not used: Maley, Longridge, Sibbald, Montano, McMillan, Kelly.

Goal: Anderson (55)

St Mirren: Alnwick; Fraser, Shaughnessy, Dunne, Tait; Power, Gogic (Henderson 64); Kiltie, Ronan, Jones (Tanser 74); Grieve (Main 71). Subs not used: Lyness, McCarthy, Flynn, Erhahon, Millar.

Goal: Kiltie (78).

Sent-off: Dunne (83).

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