St Johnstone 1-1 Livingston: Hosts remain winless as they settle for point
- Published
St Johnstone's Dara Costelloe fires in his side's opening goal
Bottom side St Johnstone remain winless in the Scottish Premiership this season following a 1-1 draw with Livingston at McDiarmid Park.
Neither side impressed in the opening stages until Dara Costelloe's clinical finish gave Steven MacLean's team a half-time advantage and their first top-flight lead of the season.
The Perth side's captain Liam Gordon then fouled Joel Nouble in the box as they chased the ball, allowing Livingston to equalise with Sean Kelly's penalty.
After giving away the spot kick, Gordon's misery was compounded late on as another tackle on Nouble led to a VAR check and a straight red card.
Livingston remain third bottom of the league, with St Johnstone rooted in 12th place.
The game struggled to show signs of life until Graham Carey duked down the left-hand side and cut it back to the unmarked Luke Jephcott, who blasted his attempt into a defender. Either side and it was an opening goal.
St Johnstone continued to ramp up their dominance, culminating in Dan Phillips nudging a pass through for Costelloe. The 20-year-old rifled his shot under Shamal George to put the hosts into a deserved first-half lead.
Moments later, Costelloe nearly doubled the advantage with a dinked effort but this time George managed to push it away with a dangling arm.
Livingston's route back into the game was looking unclear until Nouble was sent tumbling by Gordon, and Kelly's left-footed penalty into the bottom left corner sent Dimitar Mitov the wrong way.
The spot-kick seemed to quell the hosts' dominance as the game became more of a combative midfield battle, with a glancing Ayo Obileye header almost giving Livingston all three points.
Neither side managed to break the deadlock but Gordon's dismissal for his rash sliding challenge on Nouble made it a nervy end for the hosts as they clung on to their point.
Slim pickings, but Costelloe's first-half performance was amongst the few positives for Steven MacLean. A powerful, pacey, and clinical showing from the young striker
St Johnstone struggling to show winning edge - analysis
Costelloe's goal was the first time MacLean's side have been ahead this season in the league - a truly damning indictment of their form so far.
At times, they did show signs of promising attacking impetus but that was unsustainable after they were reduced to 10 men.
Is it a lack of belief? Confidence? Communication? Wherever the cause, they have to sort it out soon or their top-flight status will be difficult to retain.
David Martindale's side have now won two points this season from losing positions - only two sides can better that stat.
They always seem to end up relatively safe early on but their attacking play was left wanting at times with the usually impressive Nouble and Bruce Anderson struggling to make an impact on the ball.
What they said
Livingston manager David Martindale: "I think St Johnstone were probably well worth the money in the first half. I thought we were really slow, really passive, and quite lethargic.
"We tweaked a couple of bits and bobs at half-time and get a wee bit fortunate in terms of how we got into the box for the penalty. Joel sees the space and does really well. From that stage I thought we were value for money."
St Johnstone manager Steven MacLean: "Really disappointed with the result, I felt we were totally in control at 1-0 and then the referee gives a penalty. felt that was the only way they were going to score.
"Our player shouldn't make contact since it's going out but I just spoke to the referee and he says he's impeded him. I watched, and he's [the referee's] probably 35 yards away from it, looking through a player. I don't see what he's given.
"He says he's impeded him and made that arm motion, so I don't understand what he means, I watched it back and I still don't understand why the penalty has been given."
What's next?
St Johnstone are away to Aberdeen on Sunday 8 October (15:00 BST), while Livingston host Motherwell 24 hours earlier.