Livingston denied a penalty at Ibrox. Livi denied a penalty at home to Kilmarnock in a key basement clash. David Martindale, Livingston’s manager, felt it was a penalty and looks for an official explanation.
BB Sport Scotland pundits also felt it was a penalty. The Livi fans around me screamed for a penalty. The match referee and VAR did not agree.
Martindale, the Lions players and their fans must wonder when something is going to fall for them. Tete Yengi also hit the bar with a left-foot shot.
His counterpart, Neil McCann, felt a draw was the right result, his men having, he said, shown “character” in responding to the loss of a well-worked, injury-time goal in the first-half. He takes positives from the performance after only having worked with his new charges for a few days ahead of this crucial game.
So, where does that take us? Well, Livingston are bottom with ten points from 21 games. Killie are second-bottom with 14 from 22 fixtures and fellow-strugglers, St Mirren, were beaten 2-0 by sixth-placed Falkirk in Paisley. They have 18 points from 20 games.
Ironically, The Buddies play Livingston twice in their next two matches. Next Saturday The Lions host Stephen Robinson’s League Cup winners in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup (15.00) and the pair then meet at The Home of the Set Fare Arena in the league on Tuesday, January 20 (19.45).
For the record, Livingston edged ahead when Connor McLennan netted after a sweeping move initiated by Yengi who fed Macaulay Tait. The midfielder on loan from Hearts crossed into the box from the left and found McLennan who lashed the ball low into the net for 1-0.
McCann rang the changes and brought on Marcus Dackers in the second-half. The substitute netted after a goalmouth scramble with 70 minutes gone to deny Livi who have now gone 19 games without a win.
Feelings surfaced post-game. McCann felt Livingston defender, Brooklyn Kabongolo, recently recalled from his loan spell with Arbroath, and who was booked in the early minutes, should have been shown the red card by referee Don Robertson after two other tackles.
Martindale hooked him after nine minutes, yes nine minutes. Experienced Danny Wilson took his place alongside captain Ryan McGowan. A wise move by Martindale.
And, of course, there was the penalty incident. Martindale, who gave ex-Rangers and Falkirk player, Scott Arfield, and Estonian striker, Alex Tamm, their debuts with 12 minutes of regulation time remaining, they had glimpses of the Killie goal, said: “Disappointed with the goal we lose. We’re giving cheap goals away, but there is a lot to like in the performance.”
McCann said: “The character is there, the grit and determination is there.” He feels his men have more to give.
Home fans left the stadium muttering about the penalty decision, as they saw it, not going their way. Another bad break in a season of disappointment so far, but the club chairman, who jetted in from America for the game, spoke live to the BBC pre-match, and accentuated the positives about the club, the staff, the manager and the players.
He loves the drive and ambition about the West Lothian organisation, and particularly the passion of the fans.
His friends sit up and take notice when he tells them that his club play in the same league as world-renowned names like Celtic and Rangers and he pledged to do everything he can to keep Livingston in Scotland’s top flight. Time will tell.
MEDIA FOCUS: Marcus Dackers tells the media about his point-earning goal. Picture Nigel Duncan
