A red card to George Stanger and a tactical switch were key to Livingston roaring back from a 2-0 deficit to share the spoils on the opening day of the William Hill Premiership before a crowd of 5,291 at The BNSP Stadium, Rugby Park, against Kilmarnock.
The 24-year-old defender was given his marching orders by referee, Matthew MacDermid, for tugging back bustling Livingston striker Robbie Muirhead in the Kilmarnock penalty box after 65 minutes.
A penalty was awarded after a VAR check, and Muirhead made no mistake from the spot, smashing the ball home down the middle of the goal.
Scott Pittman levelled the match with four minutes of regular time remaining, sending the ball home from a Lewis Smith cross, to underline Livingston’s dominance in the second-half.
Livi boss, David Martindale, had earlier made a tactical switch, bringing on Zak Rudden for Graham Carey after 46 minutes, and switched their shape, assisting The Lions play more direct football, and that also contributed to the visitors taking home a valuable point.
He told BBC Scotland: “The players have to take huge credit, they showed real resilience and the subs really helped the game.”
Earlier, Djenairo Daniels broke the deadlock after 38 minutes after Liam Polworth had carved open the visiting rearguard and David Watson reacted to a mistake from Livi goalkeeper, Jerome Prior, who failed to gather a low cross from ex-Livingston player, Jamie Brandon, to claim No 2 only four minutes later.
Stuart Kettlewell’s men could have had another just before the break, but the West Lothian side held out to the break and they dragged themselves back with those two counters.
Adam Montgomery, recently signed on loan from Celtic, made telling runs down the left and, as the clock ticked down, The Lions roared forward, taking advantage of their extra man.
They had further chances to win the game, but Killie held out with Polish-born goalkeeper, Max Stryjek, who played 57 games for Livingston from 2020 to 2022, prominent in key moments during the game.
Martindale added: “We were a wee bit unfortunate not to come out with a win.”
He felt his men only had themselves to blame for going 2-0 down and added: “They were two really poor goals to lose. I spoke to the players about that, that’s the difference between the Championship and the Premiership.”
Lessons learned, possibly, but the point is a boost to Martindale whose men entertain Falkirk, who won last season’s championship, at the Home of the Set Fare Arena next Saturday (15.00), and the loss of two points will be a blow for Kettlewell whose man were in a commanding position at the break.
Kilmarnock: Stryjek, Mayo, Stanger, Lyons (captain), Brannan, Lowery (Thompson 85), Polworth, Brandon, Watson, Daniels (Anderson 61), Dackers (McKenzie 68). Substitutes: Anderson (booked 81), Beach, Kiltie, McKenzie, Brown, Thompson, Thomson, Traynor, Watkins.
Livingston: Prior, Montgomery (booked 49), Wilson, McGowan (captain), Finlayson (booked 89), Pittman, Sylla (May 77), Tait, Carey (Rudden 46), Muirhead (Bokila 82), Winter (Smith 72). Blaney, Bokila, Culbert, Hamilton, Wanner, May, Rudden, Shinnie, Smith.
Referee: Matthew MacDermid.
PICTURE: Ryan McGowan, Livingston’s captain. By Nigel Duncan
