Livingston 2-0 Partick Thistle

Posted Saturday, December 14, 2024 by BBC.com

Former Partick Thistle striker Robbie Muirhead (right) scored Livingston's second goal

Impressive Livingston move to within five points of Scottish Championship leaders Falkirk after goals from Tete Yengi and Robbie Muirhead ended Partick Thistle's eight-game unbeaten league run.

Myles Roberts had saved superbly to stop an early Reece McAlear shot and a Matthew Clarke header, but the on-loan Watford goalkeeper let Yengi's downward header slip through his grasp and over the line after only seven minutes.

Strike partner Stevie May and midfielder Scott Pittman were both denied by fine Roberts stops, while Thistle front man Brian Graham missed a trio of chances from close range.

However, substitute striker Muirhead headed the second with just over 20 minutes remaining and Stephen Kelly had a shot cleared off the Thistle line as Livingston extended their unbeaten run to 11 home games - and seven overall.

Thistle remain fourth, two points behind Ayr United, who host Falkirk on Saturday, but could be overtaken by Queen's Park should their Glasgow rivals win away to Hamilton Academical.

Livingston manager David Martindale: "I thought the boys had a lot of control in the game, had some decent chances and there was a lot of good football within that.

"A wee bit disappointed - I thought we could have looked after the ball a bit better on the counter in the second half. But it's three points and a clean sheet."

Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan: "I don't think we really got started. We lose an early goal, which doesn't help, but we never got into our flow or rhythm.

"Credit to Livingston, they stopped that and physically dominated us all over the pitch. We can't sit here and say we deserved something out of the game."