St Johnstone 1-0 Livingston: Late Davidson goal wins it for hosts
- Published
Highlights: St Johnstone 1-0 Livingston
St Johnstone kept their 11th clean sheet in 14 matches as they beat Livingston to move into fifth in the Scottish Premiership.
Murray Davidson's goal means the Perth side have lost just twice in 14 games since being thumped 6-0 by Celtic on October 7 and edge above Hearts.
There were precious few chances before Davidson tapped with 12 minutes left.
Both sides went close with free-kicks - Liam Craig for St Johnstone and Craig Halkett for Livingston.
Ryan Hardie also had a low drive saved by Zander Clark, but quality was at a premium.
The result means St Johnstone stretch their unbeaten run to four matches, while Livingston, who are without a victory since thumping Hearts 5-0 in mid December, remain seventh.
Davidson pounces to clinch drab affair
There was a certain level of surprise as Davidson struck what turned out to be the winner, such was the paucity of play for the previous 77 minutes.
The fact only Celtic and Rangers had conceded fewer league goals than Livingston this term, coupled with St Johnstone's incredible clean sheet record, meant this was never likely to be a high-scoring game.
It took 20 minutes for the first shot on target to arrive - there were plenty off - as Clark tipped returning Rangers loanee Hardie's effort wide.
Both sides are well capable of producing quality, but it was brutally lacking on the night. There was a fleeting moment of excitement as Craig's searching free-kick from 35 yards almost dipped in, but Liam Kelly was alert and pushed it over.
Clark did likewise to stop a similarly fizzing set-piece effort after the break from Halkett, who also glanced a header wide.
Then St Johnstone got their act together, and the goal came in typical fashion. Richard Foster dropped his shoulder on the right-wing and skipped past his marker into the box. His cross was met by Matty Kennedy but Kelly parried his header, only for Davidson to pounce from three yards.
'Perth defence brilliant again' - analysis
BBC Scotland's Jim Spence at McDiarmid Park
In the first half, St Johnstone looked to play up to Tony Watt and bring others into the game, while Livingston looked to feed the pacy Hardie.
The second half lacked any real pattern. Livingston had territorial supremacy, but lacked the creative nous to unpick a St Johnstone side for whom Jason Kerr was a defensive stand out.
Gary Holt's men saw plenty of the ball but the St Johnstone defence has become near-impenetrable since being blown away by Celtic three months ago.
It is the bedrock of Tommy Wright's revolution, and they continue to look upwards. But Livingston's Premiership honeymoon is now over, as they find themselves without a win in four league matches.
'We produced the one bit of quality' - reaction
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright: "We produced the one bit of quality in the game. From our point of view there were too many mistakes. I don't think we were good enough on the ball.
"To play not as well as we can and win, I think at this stage in the season it's really important and it's a vital three points for us."
Livingston manager Gary Holt: "If we could have had a wee bit of composure, a wee bit more bravery in the final third... we were in the ascendancy in the game.
"It's disappointing that someone gets a free header in your box and no one's tracking a runner and it's in your net and the game's done."