MX23RW : Tuesday, March 2 03:48:42| >> :120:21136:21136:
Jan 22, 2020 at 7.45pm UK at Tony Macaroni Arena
Attendance: 1,140
Livingston
1-0
St Johnstone
Pittman (56')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Result: Scott Pittman spoils Tommy Wright milestone as Livingston beat St Johnstone

Result: Scott Pittman spoils Tommy Wright milestone as Livingston beat St Johnstone
© Reuters
It was Tommy Wright's 300th match in charge of Saints.

Scott Pittman netted the only goal as Livingston continued their good form with a home victory over St Johnstone.

Pittman finished at the far post in the 56th minute to maintain Livingston's position in fifth place in the Ladbrokes Premiership and ruin Tommy Wright's 300th match in charge of Saints.

Rangers goalkeeper Robby McCrorie twice saved well from Michael O'Halloran to earn a clean sheet on his debut after swapping his Queen of the South loan spell for Livi in the wake of Ryan Schofield picking up a thigh injury on his first appearance.

Both sides came into the game in form with Livi losing just once in eight games and St Johnstone letting in only one goal in their previous six outings.

The teams were predictably evenly-matched with neither goalkeeper troubled in the opening half hour, although Saints claimed for a penalty when O'Halloran went down under pressure from Ciaron Brown.

The hosts came closest to breaking the first-half deadlock when Stevie Lawson curled a 20-yard free-kick off the outside of the post.

Saints had their best opening of the half seconds later when O'Halloran won the ball off Brown and got in behind after a one-two with Stevie May, but McCrorie stopped his shot from a tight angle and saved Jason Holt's follow-up.

Livingston wide man Stevie Lawless was causing problems but it was two centre-backs that almost fashioned the opener in stoppage-time, Jon Guthrie heading wide of the near post from Brown's deep cross.

Saints goalkeeper Zander Clark made his first save just after the break when he brilliantly pushed over Pittman's 22-yard strike.

The visitors broke moments later and McCrorie made a close-range stop from O'Halloran after Drey Wright's cross.

The breakthrough came after the home side worked the ball to Lyndon Dykes following a throw-in on the left. The striker drove a cross to the far post and the unmarked Pittman converted first time just inside the post from 10 yards.

Clark soon made another stop from a Pittman long-range effort and Saints were struggling to get back in it before Wright made a triple substitution with 20 minutes left.

Full-back Scott Tanser came on along with strikers Chris Kane and Callum Hendry as Saints switched to a 3-4-3 formation. The visitors soon threatened but Brown cleared O'Halloran's effort off the line and Hendry could not convert the rebound under pressure.

Clark soon saved from Dykes and Gary Holt's side saw out the win.

ID:387112:cQx:QQ:
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright pictured in January 2016
Read Next:
Tommy Wright urges St Johnstone to increase lead over relegation rivals
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Premier League
Championship
Serie A
DFB-Pokal
KNVB Beker
League One
League Two
National League
National League North
National League South
Scottish Championship
Turkish Super Lig
NIFL Premiership
Welsh Premier League
Serie B
Ligue 2
Eerste Divisie
Copa Diego Maradona
Uruguayan Primera Division
Liga MX
Australian A-League
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1RangersRangers3026407396482
2Celtic31207465234267
3Hibernian30157841281352
4Aberdeen3113993230248
5Livingston29117113635140
6St Mirren31109122934-539
7Dundee UnitedDundee Utd31811122843-1535
8St Johnstone3089133139-833
9Motherwell3188152846-1832
10Ross County3075182254-3226
11Kilmarnock3174202743-1625
12Hamilton AcademicalHamilton2966172856-2824

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!