Livingston lost two “embarrassing” goals in five first-half minutes according to manager David Martindale, but his men showed real character to claw their way back into the game and earn a point against fellow-strugglers, Dundee, at the rain-soaked Home of the Set Fare Arena.
Undoubtedly the conditions played a part, Livingston enjoying the benefits of a strong wind in the second-half, but, overall, the squad showed resilience and determination, according to Martindale who felt that his men controlled sections of the match and could have earned all three points had they taken their chances.
He will, however, be minus his captain, Ryan McGowan, for their trip along the M8 to face St Mirren next Saturday (15.00), the Aussie having been dismissed in the second-last act of the game.
Referee Dan McFarlane believed the experienced McGowan tugged Dundee substitute, Emile Acquah, down, depriving him of a goal scoring opportunity, a decision verified by VAR.
However, Martindale felt that his skipper was fouled by Acquah before the Dundee player ended up on the ground, a debatable point, but it was a blow to McGowan who was starting his first match since mid-September after spending nearly four weeks in hospital with a serious leg infection.
Martindale’s counterpart, ex-Hearts defender, Steven Pressley, cut a disappointed figure in the media room post-match, feeling that Dundee let a glorious chance for all three points slip away.
He said: “We find ourselves 2-0 up and in a good position and playing with a great deal of confidence, but you can’t give away goals like we did.”
Nervousness, he said, crept in after Livi opened their account and he added: “Credit to Livingston, they put us under pressure.”
Pressley admitted that his goalkeeper, John McCracken, apologised to the squad in the dressing-room, after letting the leveller slip through his legs.
Earlier, the strong, gusty wind and heavy rain made this a game of two halves, and Pressley was pleased with the way his men started the match watched by over 3,000 fans.
Livi boss Martindale made three changes with skipper McGowan, Jeremy Bokila and Joshua Brenet starting but it was former Hearts and Ross Country midfielder, Yan Dhanda, who showed neat touches for the visitors during the opening spell.
Livi, however, broke and Mo Susoho slid the ball into the Dundee box and Pittman had a chance before Smith had a glimpse of goal the danger was snuffed out.
Dundee replied and a deflected Cameron Congreve free-kick on the left was cleared before being picked up by Wright who fired over.
Seconds later the travelling support celebrated when Dhanda netted, a massive lift for the Tayside team and a downer for The Lions whose boss had pin-pointed this fixture as a must-win encounter..
Livingston goalkeeper Jerome Prior parried a shot from Ethan Hamilton but Dhanda struck the ball into the far corner for his first goal of the season. Time 13 minutes.
Mistakes crept into the home side’s game, but McGowan found Cristian Montano with a long ball to the left only for the receiver to thump it high and wide from outside the box.
Disaster struck Livi in the next attack by Dundee when Congreve netted at the back post after a surging run from Tony Yougane. Time 18 minutes.
It was a dream start for the visitors and Livi rarely threatened.
Dundee were forced into a change when Ryan Astley left the field on 29 minutes, Imari Hines-Samuels coming on before Macaulay Tait came close for the home fans from outside the box.
At last a real threat from the home side, and Scott Pittman’s low shot from near the penalty spot was parried by Dundee goalkeeper, John McCracken for a corner. Livi fans responded, but the set-piece came to nothing.
Brenet was then fouled on the edge of the Dundee box as Livingston upped the tempo looking for a route back. Susoho took charge and but Brenet’s whose weak effort failed to trouble McCracken.
A Dhanda free kick threatened near the break as three extra minutes were signalled and home fans booed their men off at the whistle.
Martindale made a move. He removed Brenet and brought on Connor McLennan in a bid to spark his troops.
There was certainly more pace and purpose about their attacks, but still no real punch, however that change and Montana forced McCracken into a diving save.
Susoho misplaced a pass and showed his frustration, and he was soon replaced by Stevie May. Dundee removed skipper Simon Murray for Ashley Hay.
Breakthrough. A lifeline for the home side came when Montano picked up a ball in midfield and sent an inch-perfect pass into the path of Bokila who stayed calm to slot. Time 64 minutes.
That sparked home fans and the side who continued to press. McGowan then fed Smith away on the right, forcing McCracken to saved low down at his back post.
Home fans responded, urging their favourites on, and more hope arrived when Tait forced a corner. The West Lothian men failed to make it count, but Livi continue to press.
Pittman then found May just outside the Dundee box and his shot was parried by McCracken then May had another pop which was deflected wide. More chances created but not converted and the clock was ticking.
A Montana cross then caused concern as Tete Yeng prepared to enter the fray, possibly a last throw of the dice for Martindale, and the 6ft 5 Aussie striker delivered, converting at the back post from a Tait cross with five minutes of regulation time left.
Lewis Smith then brought out a save from McCracken and Robbie Muirhead came into the fray. His first action brought a booking and then McGowan was handed a red card after six minutes of injury time for denying a goal scoring chance.
Livingston survived and the point keeps them in touch with the rest, and Martindale commented: “I give the players a lot of credit. There was a big reaction and we do extremely well to get back into the game.”
Overall, he felt a mix of frustration, disappointment and relief, much like most of the fans around me who left the stadium with their sideon nine points from 16 games, three adrift of Kilmarnock who have also played 16 fixtures, and four behind tenth-placed Dundee who have played a game more.
Livingston: Prior, McGowan, Susoho, Pittman, Smith, Bokila, Finlayson, Tait, Montano, Wilson, Brenet. Substitutes: Hamilton, Muirhead, Carey, McLennan, May, Shinnie, Sylla, Yengi, Lawal.
Dundee: McCracken, Astley, Koumetio, Wright, Digby, Murray, Yogane, Congreve, Dhanda, Graham, Hamilton. Substitutes: O’Hara, Ingram, Donnelly, Acquah, Robertson, Hay, Hines-Samuels, Reilly, Jones.
MCGOWAN MEETS THE MEDIA: Ryan McGowan speaks to the press in the media room at Livingston. Picture Nigel Duncan
