Lions suffer second defeat in succession but still maintain joint position at top of league

Oct 23 2008 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Lions suffer second defeat in succession but still maintain joint position at top of league

THE First Division lead is shared three ways this week after Livingston slumped to their second league loss on the bounce.

In the absence of goal grabbers Callum Elliot and Leigh Griffiths, through suspension and international duty, the Lions lacked teeth up front and went down to a 1-0 defeat to St Johnstone.

The defeat saw Saints move to within a point of Livi, Dunfermline and Queen of the South, who also lost on the day, at the top of the pile on 18 points.

A fantastic curling effort from Steven Milne on the half hour mark proved to be the difference as Livingston struggled to find a cutting edge in the absence of their two top gunslingers.

With Elliot and Griffiths, who boast goal-a-game ratios this season and have scored 12 goals between them, both missing, teenager Gordon Smith was handed a starting berth and he found the going tough against the physical Saints rearguard.

The 17-year-old had his side’s best chance in the second half but he screwed a free header wide of the St Johnstone post.

There was little between the two promotion chasers in a match which could have gone either way.

Livi had the game’s first effort on goal when Tony McParland warmed Allan Main’s palms with a stinging 25 yard drive after a free flowing passing move.

At the other end towering stopper Kevin Rutkiewicz headed over from close range to the relief of the West Lothian crowd.

But the Perth side did take the lead on 29 minutes when Derek Holmes fed Milne, who floated the ball over the stranded Pierre Martini from the edge of the box.

Roberto Landi regrouped his charges at the break and they started the second period impressively.

On loan Celt Rocco Quinn burst clear and teed up young Smith with a glorious chance which he unfortunately snatched at and sent the wrong side of the post.

It was a miss which proved costly as St Johnstone held out for what could be a crucial win.

Saints are a team in form but Livingston have stalled somewhat and are now one of five teams separated by just a point at the peak of Britain’s most fiercely contested championship.

Saints boss Derek McInnes was delighted to leave West Lothian with maximum points.

He said: “You have to work really hard for any points you get in this division and we did that.

“I said to the players that we had to be strong and keep our shape.

“We dug in and got a fantastic three points against a team who are above us in the league.”