Livingston hold Kilmarnock to 0-0 draw and secure first Premiership point
- Published
Highlights: Livingston 0-0 Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke is open to bringing new players to the club but says "it's a difficult market".
Killie drew 0-0 with hosts Livingston on Saturday, a first Premiership point of the season for Livi.
Steven Lawless drew a save from visiting goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald before Chris Burke fired against the outside of the post at the other end.
"I've said since January that I'm relatively happy with the players I've got in the building," said Clarke.
"If we can find one or two players that can improve the group we will try and bring them in. It's a difficult market when you've got no money, it's the loan market and free transfers we are looking for.
"We keep looking, we keep trying and we keep inviting people up to spend a couple of days training with us. If they come great, if they don't come it's also fine."
Low key, flat and subdued
The first half had an odd, low-key feel. A crowd of 2,586 sparsely entertained. The atmosphere felt flat and the lack of chances did not help.
Burke came closest with an effort off the post after a cross from Jordan Jones as Kilmarnock laid claims to having the best of a poor first half. But Livingston were making it a contest, certainly in terms of possession.
It may have been a different sort of game had Lawless scored from range. His effort was well saved by MacDonald, but truth be told it was all fairly standard fare.
Overall the first half almost had the feel of a training game at times with the new artificial turf kicking up loads of black pellets at all times.
The second half continued in similar style, albeit with Kilmarnock getting more men forward when they were on the attack.
A run from Burke almost created the breakthrough for Stephen O'Donnell, his shot straight at goalkeeper Liam Kelly.
Jones and Greg Kiltie would fire in late efforts at the Livingston keeper but both went straight to him as the game ended goalless.
Burke could not get the breakthrough for Killie
'Creativity lacking'
Kenny Miller, whose side lost 3-1 at Celtic Park last week, must be encouraged that his team - predicted to be Premiership whipping boys - were able to hold their own against a good top-flight side.
Sporting their sturdy 3-5-2 formation, Livingston never looked out of place against a Kilmarnock team that impressed hugely last season and had beaten St Johnstone last week.
Creativity is the big miss for the home side. They have width and can get the ball forward, but creating anything like a decent chance for either Lee or Kenny Miller looks a real struggle.
From a Kilmarnock point of view it seemed as if Clarke used the first half to get the measure of his opponents as they stuck to their regular 4-4-2. As soon as the second half started every time Kilmarnock got the ball forward their full-backs Greg Taylor and O'Donnell would become second wingers as the away side looked to outnumber the Livingston defence.
Increasingly it looked like it would take an individual moment to win this match. Burke looked the most likely, the former Scotland winger showing sparks of inspiration from time to time.
They say creativity is king and ultimately onlookers were not royally entertained, but a point apiece is perhaps a satisfactory return in the end for both sides.
Miller 'really, really happy' - reaction
Livingston player-manager Kenny Miller: "It's going to be like that every week for us. Every week, leaving everything out there - absolutely everything out on the field. But I enjoyed it, I really enjoyed the game. I thought first half we played some fantastic stuff, dominated for long spells of the game.
"They've got a threat in Jones, Boydy (Kris Boyd) is up front and always a goal threat, Burke he's done what he's done for years and years. They've got good players, very well organised. Either team could maybe have gone on and won it but really, really happy because they are a good outfit."
Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke: "Reasonably satisfied. I knew it would be a tough game coming here. Big game for Livi, first [home] game back in the Premiership after a long time.
"We weathered the early storm quite well, probably created the best chance of the first half when Chris Burke hit the post and I thought we had much better control of the match in the second half without really creating enough to threaten the goalkeeper."