Fear takes hold as Livi stumble to Firhill loss

Nov 27 2008 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Fear takes hold as Livi stumble to Firhill loss

THE dark shadow of uncertainty has been looming over Almondvale of late and the rumours of a financial crisis gripping the club seemed to be preying heavily on the players’ minds last weekend.

The off-the-field problems had dominated the back pages all weekend and on the field Livingston struggled at a frosty Firhill as they lost 2-1 to Partick Thistle.

Goals from Liam Buchanan and Stephen McKeown, either side of a controversial penalty strike from Dave Mackay, saw the Jags leapfrog the Lions in the table.

Livi’s stunning start to the First Division season is fast becoming a distant memory and they have now picked up just four points from the last 21.

At the start of play Partick came into the game boasting the best home defence in the whole of Britain and the early signs suggested little from the visitors to change that.

Thistle took the lead after just 10 minutes when Buchanan met a corner from evergreen midfielder Simon Donnelly and headed the hosts ahead.

Roberto Landi’s Livingston side have been praised for their free-flowing football this season but there was no sign of that with the West Lothian club missing a handful of first-team regulars.

But the Lions hit back and earned a penalty with their first significant attack of the game after Callum Elliot had his legs clipped by Ian Maxwell.

There were furious protests from the home side who insisted the on-loan Jambo dived but Livi fullback Mackay cooly converted the spot-kick.

It was only the third goal that Jags fans had seen against their side at Firhill this season.

Two minutes before the break Partick restored their lead with Donnelly again the provider.

The former Celtic star played a superb reverse ball in behind the Livingston rearguard for McKeown on the left who smashed the ball high across goal into the far top corner of the net.

Rocco Quinn almost grabbed an instant reply for the Lions with a low drive from 25 yards which had keeper Jonny Tuffey scrambling across his goal.

The second half seemed to fizzle out with few chances at either end although Gary Harkins curled just over the bar after ghosting past a handful of Livi players.

To his credit Landi went for broke in a bid to salvage a point from the match.

His options are limited with a lengthening injury list including key duo Leigh Griffiths and Murray Davidson, but Livingston ended the match playing in a all-out attack formation.

French forward Jean Cuenca and teen striker Gordon Smith were both thrown into the fray alongside Elliot while skipper James McPake ended the match playing as an auxilliary frontman.

But ultimately it was to no avail as Partick held on for the win which takes them above the Lions in the promotion hunt.

Livingston: P Martini, D Mackay, J Talbot, J McPake, L Fox, C Innes, A McParland (J Cuenca 50),M Thomas (J Hamill 59), C Elliot, R Quinn, G Miller (G Smith 79). Subs Not Used: C Macdonald, D Jamieson