Livi United hit with trio of penalties

Oct 13 2011 by Kieran Westbrook, West Lothian Courier

ANDY JOHNSTONE admits he still doesn’t know how his team managed to give away three penalties in 15 minutes.

The Livingston United boss watched his side pay the penalty for giving away three spot-kicks in a crazy second-half spell.

Graeme Crawford sent United into the lead after firing home from a low cross from Cowdenbeath loan star Paul Bryne.

The finish capped a great Livi move and gave the visitors a well-earned lead going into half time.

But the game was turned on its head in the 50th minute when Dalkeith were handed their first of three penalties.

Thistle’s Steven Pudleski fired home two of the spot-kicks with Livi’s keeper saving the third.

Andy Roberts pulled Livi level with 15 minutes remaining.

But while Livi dominated the closing stages of the match, neither side could grab the winner.

Johnstone said: “I’ve got no complaints with the draw. Dalkeith are a good side and a point isn’t a bad result away from home.

“I felt one of the penalties was definitely right.

“The second was a foul but it was about a yard outside the box, and I still don’t know what the third one was for.

“I’m not going to get upset about – that’s football.

“It’s frustrating but you’ve just got to hope your luck changes when those things happen.

“I couldn’t believe it when we conceded three penalties in 15 minutes – I still can’t believe it!”

Livi head to Grangemouth Stadium to take on Falkirk this weekend.

It will be United’s fifth away game in the South Division.

And Johnstone can’t wait to see his side playing at home again.

He said: “We’ll obviously get the benefit of it later in the season because we are picking up the points, but it’s hard to be playing so many away games.

“We had the same last season but it is hard.

“Playing Spartans, Dalkeith and then Falkirk all away back-to-back isn’t easy.

“But hopefully we can take something away from this game too.”