Livingston suffered another confidence-sapping reverse, this time at St Mirren, as the bottom three in the 12-strong William Hill Premiership table lost ground on ninth-placed Saints after all suffering narrow defeats.
The West Lothian-based side went down 1-0 after the newly-crowned Premier Sports Cup winners dominated proceedings in the West of Scotland.
David Martindale (pictured), Livingston’s manager, was looking for a favourable performance and result moving into the busy Festive programme and ahead of next Saturday’s visit of champions Celtic to The Home of the Set Fare Arena, but it did not arrive.
Earlier, St Mirren made one change from Sunday’s cup-winning side, Roland Idowu replacing the injured Keanu Baccus. Ryan McGowan, Livingston’s captain, was absent after he received a red card in the dying minutes of last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Dundee at The Home of the Set Fare Arena.
Stevie May was named to start by manager David Martindale with Mo Sylla making his return and Teti Yengi was picked to lead the line at the 8,000-capacity SMiSA Stadium.
St Mirren goalkeeper Shamal George was up against Livingston, a side for which he made 80 appearances, and it was the home side who caused early concern in the visitors’ penalty box when Prior dropped the ball.
George was soon in action, getting down low to collect after a darting raid, before The Buddies mounted another attack, the ball flashing across the Livingston penalty box, but nobody was there to take advantage.
Saints pressed again and desperate defending denied Ayunga, his shot being deflected for a corner. The ball came in from the left and the ball was cleared off the line. Goalkeeper Prior was in action minutes later, mopping up as Ayunga waited for a slip.
Livingston earned their first corner after a Sylla shot was blocked. May sent the ball to the far post from the right hand side but George tidied up.
Martindale continued to issue instructions from his dugout as Livi looked for a foothold in the game, and a second corner arrived, this time on the left. May sent the ball in but the danger was cleared.
At the other end, Pittman cleared for a corner and Saints went short, a total waste, but the home side came again. Nlundulu won the ball in the middle of the pitch and sent Ayunga away. He had a clear run in on the left but his first touch sent the ball wide allowing Prior to narrow the angle.
Ayunga’s eventual shot was kicked clear. The best chance of the game so far wasted by the side who had enjoyed the better of the possession and the opportunities in the opening 30 minutes.
Another arrived following a cross from the left from Fraser and that man Ayunga rose to nod towards goal but the ball went wide of the post.
Would Saints regret missing those chances? Livingston, however, failed to threaten George in the Saints goal in a game which desperately needed a spark, but the Premier Sports Cup winners looked the side most likely as they continued to press as half-time loomed.
A corner on the St Mirren right was punched clear by Prior and the rebound was blasted high over by Idowu. Another corner, this time on the left, was earned, Sylla shepherding the ball out, and John twisted and turned on the edge of the box but The Lions kept their cool to clear.
Seconds later John had a sight of goal on the edge of the six-yard box but Prior cleared. Bokila was felled to the left of the Saints box, earning a free-kick, and May flighted the ball into the far post. It was also dealt with.
Half-time arrived with the sides deadlocked, but Saints thought they had opened their account early in the second period. It was 52 minutes in fact and danger man Ayunga did the damage with Nlundulu supplying the ammunition with a low cross, but VAR intervened and the goal was ruled out.
Livingston had so far shown little up-front and Prior cleared a Saints cross and then a Phillips shot was blocked as Stephen Robinson’s men worked hard for an opening goal. It arrived on 72 minutes and Mandron supplied the finishing touch at the near post with John involved in the decisive move.
The strike heaped pressure on the bottom-markers who have not won since August 9, and Finlayson was booked for a foul on McMenamin as they challenged for a high ball, but Saints held out to back up their historic cup win with three points as they bid to move up the table.
Livingston: Prior, Pittman, May, Bokila, Finlayson, Sylla, Tait, Montano, Wilson, Brenet, Yengi.
St Mirren: George, Fraser, King, Freckleton, McMenamin, Phillips, Gogic, Idowu, John, Ayunga, Nlundulu.
