Kenny Miller leads Livingston to victory on managerial debut

Posted Sunday, July 15, 2018 by PA

Kenny Miller played the full 90 minutes of his winning managerial debut as Livingston won 2-1 at Airdrie in the Betfred Cup.

First-half goals from Scott Pittman and Lee Miller proved enough to earn the Ladbrokes Premiership newcomers three points at the Penny Cars Stadium.

The scoreline was tighter than it should have been after slack play by Craig Halkett allowed Darryl Duffy to pull one back in the 53rd minute but Airdrie could not make the visitors pay for failing to finish off a series of chances.

The player-manager was one of two debutants in the Livingston starting line-up, alongside former Airdrie and Morton full-back Ricki Lamie, and the familiarity told in a dominant first-half display against a home side featuring seven summer signings.

Lee Miller headed against the bar early on and Alan Lithgow also came close with a header before Pittman opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a neat finish from 12 yards.

Lee Miller netted from close range a minute later after Scott Gallacher had spilled Lamie’s header following a Kenny Miller cross.

Lee Miller had a goal disallowed for offside after Nicky Cadden’s curling effort was saved and Gallacher denied Kenny Miller a debut goal after Pittman and Scott Robinson had opened up the home defence.

Livingston goalkeeper Liam Kelly’s only first-half save came from a Ryan Conroy free-kick and Robinson saw a good chance saved seconds after the break.

But Halkett handed Airdrie a lifeline when he lost the ball after trying to take on Duffy with only Kelly for cover.

Dale Carrick returned the ball to his strike partner, who slipped it past the onrushing goalkeeper.

Carrick soon came close to an equaliser when he thumped a shot against the bar from 20 yards and Livingston passed up chances to restore their two-goal cushion.

Robinson headed against the post and Gallacher made good saves from Kenny Miller and Robinson, but there was to be no sting in the tail for the visitors as Scott Stewart shot tamely at Kelly with the last kick of the ball.