Calvin Ford, Livingston’s American-based owner, was in attendance to watch new captain, Robbie Muirhead, claim a glory double as Livingston bid to bounce straight back into the top tier of Scottish football.
The 30-year-old former Hearts striker netted his double in the second half of a game dominated by The Lions who looked sharper and more focused than their visitors, nicknamed The Spiders.
Glenn Whelan, the club’s new coach, must have been pleased with the three points. The fans undoubtedly were and the club marked the start of their campaign by parading West Lothian schools pipe band.
The rain started as the youngsters marched in to the field to a warm reception from fans, much fewer in number than last season when they were in the William Hill Premiership.
A small number of Queen’s Park fans made the short trip along the M8 for the fixture and Whelan picked a strong squad.
The Dublin-born boss was hoping for a flying start to the season and the teams walked out to pyrotechnics. In the stands, fans were hopeful of fireworks in the pitch from their favourites.
Thankfully, the rain abated as Queen’s set the ball rolling, but it was a scrappy start until Kabongolo made a mistake just inside the box allowing Hamilton a chance to shoot. Prior was untroubled.
Fati had a shooting chance at the other end after a corner but fired wildly over then he robbed a Queen’s player in his own half. He fed Sinclair down the left and he found Palmer. Carey was unmarked on the edge or the box to receive the ball but Queen’s goalkeeper, Wills, got down to save his low shot.
Sinclair was next to test Wills who dived to his right to parry but the ball was nodded back into the danger area. Queen’s cleared.
It was all Livingston and Carey had the fans in their feet thinking he had scored. Disappointment, however, but MacPherson continued to pull the strings in midfield for the home side who pressed. The visitors found it hard to break out.
Fati then fed Sinclair with an inviting cross from the left and he headed wide from a good position before Sinclair was involved in a neat one-two with Palmer but the move fizzled out.
Seconds later a Carey corner from the right caused real danger. Queen’s survived this time but it seemed only a matter of time before Livingston broke through as Sinclair continued to trouble the visitors.
Then Moorhead showed neat footwork before testing Woods from long range before a lifted cross from the right found Sinclair unmarked in the box but he headed over.
Queen’s tried to counter, but their sporadic raids resulted in tame, long-range efforts and it was Carey who tried from distance for the Lions just before the break set up by lively Sinclair.
It was all square then at the break and fans wondered if Livi would break the deadlock. Livingston were on front foot from the start of the second session and match referee Chris Graham saved waved away protests as Moorhead and Pittman ended up in the deck in the penalty box.
MacPherson and Sinclair continued to threaten but Queen’s broke suddenly and Lewis Stewart hit the bar. Seconds later their defence was ripped open and Muirhead counted. The fans were in their feet. Time 50 minutes.
Carey and Doherty then linked and the move ended with a Queen’s defender heading fortuitously wide as the home pressure intensified.
A cute Fati backheel set-up Sinclair but the danger was cleared and, at the other end, Livingston goalkeeper, Prior, was a virtual spectator as Carey carried the fight towards Queen’s again down the right.
Sinclair was found at the right-hand edge of the box and his angled shot just wide just evaded the far upright. A real let-off for Queen’s.
The visitors, however, came more into the game and Ruth tried from long-range, but it was the home side who wrapped up the points on 78 minutes and that man Irvine-born Muirhead was on the mark again, swivelling inside the six-yard box to net. Cue celebrations among the home fans.
Livingston: Prior, Fati, Sinclair, Pittman, Muirhead, Robertson, MacPherson, Palmer, Doherty, Kabongolo, Carey
Queen’s Park: Wills, Murray, Lamie, Longridge, Martin, Ruth, Hamilton, Connolly, Pignatiello, Stewart, Shiels
Referee: Chris Graham
OWNER IN TOWN: Calvin Ford was at Almondvale for the game. Picture Nigel Duncan
