Livingston meet St Mirren again in the William Hill Premiership at The Home of the Set Fare Arena on Tuesday (19.45), and must bounce back after exiting the Scottish Gas, Scottish Cup, after a penalty shootout at Livingston.
Dutch-born Malik Dijksteel rolled the ball into the corner of the net past Livi goalkeeper Jerome Prior to clinch their passage into the fifth round.
Earlier, Robbie Muirhead was in the starting line-up up-front for the home side after being on the bench in recent games and ex-Rangers player, Scott Arfield, was in along with Daniel Finlayson against a St Mirren side smarting from criticism from their manager, Stephen Robinson.
The verbal volley came after their 2-0 defeat at Tynecastle in midweek against a Hearts team down to ten-men for 75 minutes.
Robinson made one change, bringing in Jayden Richardson for Conor McMenamin, and the odds were against Livingston who have not won since they beat Falkirk in August.
And it was The Buddies who started well, Macaulay Tait forced into making a block before the ball was switched to the right. Jayden Richardson drove towards the by line and his low cross into the six-yard box was picked up at the far post by Roland Idowu and he made no mistake from close in. It was a fine move involving several players. Time four minutes.
The Lions roared back to level seven minutes later, Arfield, making his first start since signing, counting. The move started on the left and deep inside Livingston’s own half.
Play switched over to the right. The ball was then sent into the box and Arfield picked up a flick from Joshua Brenet to send the ball beyond former Livi goalkeeper, Shamal George, with his left foot from eight yards.
That strike opened his account for the club in the town in which he was born 37 years ago.
Saints hit back and Oisin Smyth fired wide for The Buddies as they attempted to shake off the loss of the goal, but Livingston broke with Tait finding Muirhead who sent the ball to Lewis Smith on the edge of the area. He fired wide.
Declan John had a chance for Saints in an entertaining game in which the action raged from end-to-end until the break as both sides looked to progress in the competition.
The second session opened with Livingston creating two chances. Mo Susoho fired just wide then Muirhead rose to meet a Smith cross but his header was gathered by George. Could David Martindale’s men rue that missed opportunity?
The play raged on, mirroring the first half, and Connor McLennan shot from distance, but George was equal to it.
Martindale brought off Arfield and replaced him with experienced former St Johnstone and Aberdeen player, Stevie May, as the clock ticked down and nerves began to kick-in.
However, chances came, at both ends, and substitute May had a one-to-one with Saints goalkeeper which was saved and substitute Dan Nlundulu was denied by Livi goalkeeper, Prior.
You felt something had to give as St Mirren upped the pace heading into the closing stages, but the sides were deadlocked at the final whistle.
Extra time opened with neither side able to break through by the half-time break and both sides were 15 minutes away from nerve-wracking penalty kicks.
French-born Nlundulu, however, had a chance to decide this game, but scuffed his effort wide from the six-yard line then, at the other end, George tipped a header from Livi substitute Jeremy Bokila over the bar in a tense finish.
It was still deadlock and now into penalty kicks, one of four cup games to end in a draw after regulation time and an extra session.
Bolika skied his penalty over the bar, Tete Yengi had his saved by George before May netted for 3-3 but Dijksteel did the business to send the Premier Sports Cup holders through 4-3 in the shootout.
LIVI PAY PENALTY: Ryan McGowan, he converted but his effort was to no avail. Picture Nigel Duncan
