St Mirren boost survival chances after comeback win over Livingston

Posted Sunday, April 21, 2019 by PA

St Mirren gave their chances of avoiding relegation from the Ladbrokes Premiership a massive boost as they came from behind to beat 10-man Livingston.

Second-half goals from Danny Mullen and Simeon Jackson sealed the win that moves Oran Kearney’s side to within two points of Hamilton in 10th place and six clear of bottom side Dundee.

Scott Robinson had put Livingston in front just three minutes after Craig Halkett had been shown a straight red card before Paul McGinn equalised for St Mirren before half-time.

Livingston had made three changes from the side that started against Celtic. In came Keaghan Jacobs, Robinson and Ryan Hardie for Dolly Menga, Ricki Lamie and Shaun Byrne who all took their place on the bench.

St Mirren made two changes from the side that had drawn with Hamilton Accies, with Gary MacKenzie and Stephen McGinn coming in for Mateo Muzek and Jackson.

Livingston started the brighter of the two sides. Jacobs threatened with a shot that curled just beyond the far post, before a thumping effort from Robinson went narrowly wide.

The home side suffered a blow when they were reduced to 10 men after just 17 minutes. Halkett was adjudged to have denied Brad Lyons a clear goalscoring opportunity when he fouled the St Mirren player outside the penalty box and referee Willie Collum produced the red card.

Despite the setback, Livingston took the lead just three minutes later. It was a well-worked goal, Robinson and Lawless working a nice 1-2 before the former Hearts man converted from close range.

St Mirren drew level after 26 minutes. Anders Dreyer sent Paul McGinn clear down the right flank and with the Livingston defence awaiting a cut back the wing back squeezed the ball past goalkeeper Liam Kelly from a tight angle.

St Mirren switched a defender for a striker at half-time – Jackson coming on for MacKenzie – and went on to dominate much of the second-half.

Mullen had an early header that lacked power while Jackson could have made an immediate impact but could not get his shot past Kelly from a good position. Mullen threatened again from Jackson’s pull-back but Hakeem Odoffin made a timely intervention.

The former Livingston man would not be denied, though, after 78 minutes when his shot from outside the box zipped past Kelly, before Jackson made sure of the result by converting from close in after the goalkeeper had spilled Kyle McAllister’s long-range shot.