Livingston got 2022 off to the perfect start as a Bruce Anderson double early in the second half saw them defeat Dundee 2-0.
The striker took his tally for the season to nine with a clinical brace. The 23-year-old rattled the crossbar barely 15 seconds into the second half - only to pop up at the back post from the resulting corner-kick and fire home the opener.
And he was in the right place at the right time once again 10 minutes later as he pounced on the rebound after Adam Legdzins had stopped an Ayo Obileye strike at his near post. The striker calmly spinning and firing into the far corner to give the Lions some breathing space.
The victory sees Livi remain in eighth place but close the gap to Dundee United above them to just two points after they lost at home to St Mirren.
Livingston boss David Martindale named January signings Morgan Boyes and Caleb Chukwuemeka on the bench, while Joel Nouble missed out.
The away side were forced into an early change just seven minutes in when the injured Jordan Marshall was replaced at left-back by Christie Elliott.
The Dees would fashion the game's first opportunity moments later when neat play from Paul McMullan on the edge of the box bought him some space, but Max Stryjek pushed his effort wide.
At the other end, Scott Pittman headed a Nicky Devlin cross wide following neat play down the right-hand side while Legzdins did well to thwart Anderson as the Livi striker got in behind the defence and tried to dink the keeper.
The Lions were beginning to take control of the game and should have opened the scoring on 26 minutes when both Pittman and Anderson saw close range efforts blocked by a resolute Dundee defence.
Having passed up chances to open the scoring in the first half, it took the hosts just 46 seconds to get up and running after the interval.
Anderson saw his fizzing strike tipped onto the bar and over just 14 seconds in - before the resulting corner-kick eventually found its way to the former Aberdeen man who slammed home at the back post through the legs of Legzdins.
A frenetic start to the second half then saw Jason Holt and Charlie Adam booked after a coming together before Stryjek rescued the Lions with a brilliant stop.
Dundee's Paul McGowan pounced on an errant pass back from Ayo Obileye with Stryjek needing every inch of his outstretched arm to paw the ball away as the Dees man looked to round the keeper.
That would prove crucial as Anderson doubled his tally on 56 minutes as he pounced on the rebound after Obileye's strike was palmed at the near post by Legzdins. The striker collected the ball and in a congested area wonderfully spun and curled home his second into the far corner.
James McPake introduced both Leigh Griffiths and Alex Jakubiak in a bid to get back into the contest but it had little impact although the hosts almost handed them a glimmer of hope when Stryjek almost fumbled a Griffiths corner-kick into his own net 15 minutes from time as Livi comfortably held on for three valuable points.
Livingston: Stryjek; Devlin, Obileye, Fitzwater, Penrice (Longridge 84); Pittman, Holt, Omeonga; Bailey (Forrest 73), Anderson (Montano 84), Shinnie (Chukwuemeka 66). Subs not used: Maley, Jacobs, Boyes, McMillan, Kabia.
Goals: Anderson (46, 56)
Dundee: Legzdins; Kerr, McGhee, Fontaine, Marshall (Elliott 7); McGowan (Jakubiak 65), Adam (Mulligan 57), Anderson; McMullan (Grifffiths 65), Mullen, McCowan. Subs not used: Lawlor, Byrne, Robertson, Cummings.
