Connor McLennan wheeled away in celebration after slotting to give Livingston a slender 1-0 lead against fellow-strugglers, Kilmarnock.
However, he was more subdued in the Media Room at The Home of the Set Fare Arena post-match and admitted Livingston let two points slip away.
Killie levelled through Marcus Dackers in 70 minutes, a disappointing goal to lose, according to the former Aberdeen, Brechin City, St Johnstone, Salford City and Ayr United winger.
The 26-year-old said that the quality of teams in the William Hill Premiership means that Livingston, promoted to the William Hill Premiership via the play-offs last season, will be “under the cosh” during games.
But the Peterhead-born player, who has been frustrated after suffering from injury in the first part of the season, added: “It is about taking your chances when you are on top.”
He felt the leveller from Welsh-born Dackers “was annoying to lose”. The home side could have dealt with the situation better, but said and added: “We went into the game looking to get three points and we were close to doing that, but we can compete and we have done over the season.
“We have proved we can play in this league and we have to show that we can pick up points in it.”
His well-taken goal, following a slick move initiated by Livi striker Tete Yengi who fed midfielder Macaulay Tait on the left and his pin-point cross found McLennan near the edge of the six-yard box on the back post. He made no mistake and Kilmarnock’s London-born goalkeeper, Oluwatobiloba Oluwayemi, who is on loan from Celtic, had no chance as the ball was sent low into the netting.
It arrived in first-half injury time and at a period when McLennan felt Livingston were on top.
The player added: “We deserved that goal at that time, and we did not want to take our foot off the pedal and to try to get two. The manager (at half-time) told us not to take out foot off the gas. I don’t think we did that, the goal (Killie’s strike) just happened.”
Personally, he hopes to kick-on with his career at Almondvale and McLennan said: “I’ve got a couple of starts and a couple of goals and I hope I can keep on repaying the gaffer’s (David Martindale) faith.”
MEDIA FOCUS: Connor McLennan meets the press after the draw against Killie. Picture Nigel Duncan
