Stenhousemuir 1-3 Livingston: Three goals in seven minutes secure progress after early fright
- Published
Steven Bradley scored his first goals since joining Livingston from Hibernian
Livingston scored three times in seven minutes to come from behind against League 2 hosts Stenhousemuir and avoid a Scottish Cup fourth-round exit.
Centre-half Nicky Jamieson rose to head Stenhousemuir ahead against the run of play from a first-half corner.
But Scott Pittman fired the Premiership side level just after the break.
Fellow midfielder Steven Bradley sent a thunderous free-kick past goalkeeper Jay Cantley before running through to slot his second.
A third straight away win means Livingston retained their record of never having lost at Ochilview since their previous incarnation, Meadowbank Thistle, lost there in 1995.
Jason Holt and Scott Pittman had started instead of fellow midfielder Stephane Omeonga and defender Sean Kelly as Livingston manager David Martindale adopted an attacking formation against hosts who sit seventh in the fourth tier.
Gary Naysmith's side had only won twice in their previous eight outings - and twice in eight at home - and were content to sit back and try to hit the top-flight visitors on the break.
The strategy appeared to be working when they went ahead with their first foray forward after 26 minutes, Jamieson rising at the front post to meet a Matty Yates corner.
It had home fans dreaming of their giant-killing acts of 1995, when they beat top-flight St Johnstone and Aberdeen to reach the quarter-finals.
Cantley had replaced Curtis Lyle in goal for the hosts despite the latter's loan from Kilmarnock being renewed and the 20-year-old was rarely troubled - until whatever Martindale told his players at the break turned the game.
The young goalkeeper was beaten by Pittman's low drive from the edge of the penalty box before a quickfire double from Bradley - his first since his recent switch from Hibernian.
The midfielder sent a stunning 18-yard free-kick flashing past Cantley before firing low into the corner shortly after.
Player of the match - Steven Bradley (Livingston)
In what was a workmanlike Livingston performance, Steven Bradley stood out with two clinical finishes
What they said
Stenhousemuir manager Gary Naysmith: "My players showed me they are prepared to do the hard graft. We're still getting to know the players. What they gave me was total commitment.
"We defended well for 90% of the time. When you're playing against higher-level opposition, when you switch off they hurt you. At certain stages in the second half they were just too much for us."
Livingston manager David Martindale: "I went in the changing room at half-time bitterly disappointed. If I'd gone in at 0-0 I'd have been a lot more placid. We had dominated large parts of the game. They made it really difficult for us to play through. They scored from a set play and that was disappointing.
"I've been the underdog on many occasions and when you get a goal it gives the boys a lift. In the second half I asked my players to play at a higher tempo. We were worthy winners overall but you have to give Stenhousemuir credit."