Dan MacKay’s header in the 88th minute snatched a crucial point for Livingston
Livingston manager David Martindale says he has “fire back in his belly” and will push on to the end of the season as his side claimed a dramatic late point against fellow Scottish Premiership strugglers Ross County.
Livingston, who last won a league match on the 7 October, looked like being cut nine points adrift at the foot of the table when Simon Murray lashed in his second goal of the night for County on 85 minutes.
But Martindale’s side showed they are still fighting for their beleaguered manager by hauling themselves level just three minutes later, when Jason Holt’s cross was headed in by substitute Dan MacKay.
It was the second time Livingston managed to battle back from a goal down, having allowed Murray to creep behind their defence and fire in the opening goal before the break.
But Scott Pittman stabbed home from inside the box after a knock down from Kurtis Guthrie to ensure this crucial game was level by half-time.
“I was down on Saturday but half an hour after doing the television I had the fire back in my belly ready to fight,” Martindale told BBC Scotland.
“I want everybody to know me and my staff are here to matchday 38. We’ll deal with whatever on matchday 38. We’ll give it everything we’ve got to stay in this league.”
The significance of the game was reflected in the sides’ approach after the interval as both surged forward and created good chances to nudge in front.
County’s Jordan White could have scored from close range, and the best of Livingston’s chances fell to Bruce Anderson inside the box, but the striker could not finish from eight yards.
After that opportunity came and went it was seemed inevitable Livingston would be punished for their profligacy, and a minute later Murray controlled a cross and smashed the ball beyond goalkeeper Michael McGovern.
It could have marked the beginning of the end for Livingston in the top flight, but a great pass from Joel Nouble, Holt’s inspiration and MacKay’s accurate header keeps their fight for survival alive.
Martindale’s side are still bottom of the table and have not won any of their past 15 league games, but the gap to County, winless in seven in all competitions and in the relegation play-off spot, remains six points.
Albeit, Derek Adams’ side have two games in hand.
Player of the match – Scott Pittman
Back from injury, the midfielder put in a performance typical of him in recent seasons – tenacious, sharp and scoring a crucial goal
Livingston still fighting, County questions – analysis
Given their respective poor runs and what was at stake, it was a credit to both teams that they attacked the game and produced an entertaining match.
After hinting his time may be up following Saturday’s defeat by Dundee, Martindale then said he would “come out swinging” and keep fighting to keep Livingston in the league, his biggest challenge yet in his nearly four years in charge.
Twice coming from behind and the intensity of this performance suggest his players are with him on that, and they created enough opportunities to win.
The problem is they still look short in both boxes. Murray’s second goal came as a result of defenders completely missing a cross and leaving the striker unmarked at the back post.
And up the other end they were profligate. Whether the manager can come up some signings before Thursday’s transfer deadline remains to be seen, given his repeated comments about having little budget to work with, while also failing to attract players to a struggling side.
Ross County also played some nice stuff and created chances, but they are yet to win since Adams left mouths gaping in December with his comments about a lack of quality in his squad, and in Scottish football generally.
He has brought in new recruits to address that, and Saturday’s narrow defeat at Celtic Park and this performance showed improvement. But until they get a victory there will always be the question of whether the players are behind the manager after two controversial outbursts.
Yan Dhanda’s future is also crucial. The midfielder has agreed to join Hearts next season and he excelled again. Should Hearts come in with an offer to take him to Tynecastle before the end of the winter window, County’s fortunes would surely suffer.
What the managers said
Livingston manager David Martindale: “It was too open for my liking. The plan wasn’t to be open, but I can understand it. It took them scoring for the boys to settle down. There was tension, frustration and anxiety there. We had plenty opportunities to go on and win and the boys have to take huge credit to come back from a losing position twice.”
Ross County manager Derek Adams: “We scored a fantastic goal, an outrageous finish to put us ahead. We could have gone further ahead but we didn’t and allowed Livingston back in the game. That was difficult for us. Going in at 1-0 would have given us an advantage. The second half was a basketball match. With two minutes to go, we have to do better.”
What’s next?
Ross County host the side directly above them, St Johnstone, on Saturday in another big game (15:00 GMT), meanwhile Livingston travel to Ibrox to face Rangers at the same time.
Line-ups
Livingston
Formation 4-2-3-1
23McGovern
12Brandon21Nottingham6Obileye29Penrice
18Holt22Shinnie
16Bradley8Pittman19Nouble
28Guthrie
23McGovern12Brandon21Nottingham6Obileye29PenriceBooked at 24mins18HoltSubstituted forYengiat 89’minutes22ShinnieSubstituted forMackayat 75’minutes16BradleySubstituted forKellyat 72’minutes8Pittman19Nouble28GuthrieSubstituted forAndersonat 45’minutesSubstitutes1George2Donnellan9Anderson10Kelly11Mackay20Sangare33Yengi36Culbert40Lawal
Ross County
Formation 4-5-1
40Wickens
4Brown28Ayina35Nightingale3Borthwick-Jackson
19Khela21Jenks18King14Loturi10Dhanda
15Murray
40Wickens4Brown28Ayina35NightingaleBooked at 69mins3Borthwick-Jackson19KhelaSubstituted forWhiteat 54’minutes21Jenks18King14LoturiSubstituted forSimsat 54’minutes10DhandaSubstituted forSheafat 89’minutes15MurrayBooked at 87minsSubstituted forHarmonat 89’minutes1Laidlaw11Sims1 2Sheaf16Harmon17Henderson26White27Brophy43Reid
Live Text
Match ends, Livingston 2, Ross County 2.
Second Half ends, Livingston 2, Ross County 2.
Corner, Livingston. Conceded by George Wickens.
Foul by Tete Yengi (Livingston).
Jordan White (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Scott Pittman (Livingston) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Max Sheaf (Ross County).
Michael Nottingham (Livingston) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jordan White (Ross County).
Joel Nouble (Livingston) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Max Sheaf (Ross County).
Substitution, Ross County. George Harmon replaces Simon Murray.
Substitution, Livingston. Tete Yengi replaces Jason Holt.
Substitution, Ross County. Max Sheaf replaces Yan Dhanda.
Goal! Livingston 2, Ross County 2. Daniel Mackay (Livingston) header from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jason Holt.
Simon Murray (Ross County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Daniel Mackay (Livingston) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Simon Murray (Ross County).
Goal! Livingston 1, Ross County 2. Simon Murray (Ross County) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jordan White with a headed pass.
Attempt blocked. Bruce Anderson (Livingston) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Daniel Mackay with a cross.
Player of the match
MurraySimon Murray
Livingston
Squad number11Player nameMackay
Squad number33Player nameYengi
Squad number23Player nameMcGovern
Squad number22Player nameShinnie
Squad number16Player nameBradley
Squad number18Player nameHolt
Squad number9Player nameAnderson
Squad number8Player namePittman
Squad number29Player namePenrice
Squad number12Player nameBrandon
Squad number10Player nameKelly
Squad number21Player nameNottingham
Squad number19Player nameNouble
Squad number28Player nameGuthrie
Squad number6Player nameObileye
Ross County
Squad number15Player nameMurray
Squad number10Player nameDhanda
Squad number35Player nameNightingale
Squad number40Player nameWickens
Squad number19Player nameKhela
Squad number28Player nameAyina
Squad number4Player nameBrown
Squad number18Player nameKing
Squad number3Player nameBorthwick-Jackson
Squad number11Player nameSims
Squad number16Player nameHarmon
Squad number21Player nameJenks
Squad number14Player nameLoturi
Squad number12Player nameSheaf
Squad number26Player nameWhite