St Mirren have had the better of the first 45 minutes, with Danny Mullen a big nuisance.

Kilmarnock have been rocked by the early injury to defender Stuart FIndlay, but for now both sides look like they are continuing with their fine defensive records. Between them they have only conceded three goals in their last six games.

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This is a game that means so much to both, but you've not been able to tell at times. There has been no caginess about the affair in the first half, particularly for St Johnstone who started the game brightly, as they have tended to do this season.

As they also tend to do, they went behind early on in what still stands as Hamilton's only real chance, Mickel Miller the man to convert. But what a difference David Wotherspoon's goal, just 10 minutes before the break, could make for Tommy Wright's team.

They need to keep this going. As things stand, they are still stranded three points adrift at the foot of the table. A win is surely needed.

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St Mirren's Jonathan Obika is hard to pin down on the left-hand side of the box. He drives a dangerous ball across goal to Danny Mullen, but Kilmarnock's Alex Bruce does well to get in and block almost on the goal line.

What a miss for St Johnstone!

It's Drey Wright who is the culprit. A wonderful cutback across goal from Matty Kennedy puts the ball on a plate for the Saints man. With the goal gaping from around six yards, he can't keep his cushioned effort down and the ball balloons over the bar. Woof! A shocker.

Hibs have seen plenty of the ball and played a lot of tidy stuff in the County half, but have scarcely threatened to cleave the visiting defence open.

When they have breached the County rearguard, the finishing has left a fair bit to be desired.

After Melker Hallberg rattled the bar with an early free-kick, Jason Naismith and Flo Kamberi squandered good chances before Josh Vela was denied by a cracking Keith Watson block.

The Staggies have defended well but have hardly been present as an attacking threat. Michael Gardyne dragged a long-rage shot wide and Marcus Fraser saw a similarly ambitious effort easily saved by Chris Maxwell.

This rather soporific contest needs a spark.

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Jonathan Sutherland
BBC Sport Scotland

A robust game of human pinball perhaps the best way to describe this first half between Livingston and Hearts. Plenty of action with Hearts perhaps edging t in terms of opportunities. Uche Ikpeazu really should have put the Edinburgh side 1-0 up one-on-one with the keeper, but he chose to place his shot and credit to Matija Sarkic for pulling off a superb save. Ikpeazu also with a penalty appeal waved away after a tangle with Alan Lithgow and Ryo Meshino with a curled effort which flew just wide of the post the other big moments for the away side.

Former Hearts player Scott Robinson with the best chance for Livingston, a close range effort but Perreira saved with his legs. The Hearts keeper also turning a shot from Aymen Souda around the post.

It was 5-0 to Livingston when these sides last met here. No sign of a similar scoreline for either side this afternoon. A raw, meaty and very competitive encounter but could do with a goal.

Nicky Devlin's game is up, potentially after hurting himself in the tackle on Aaron Hickey. He's off, and Ricki Lamie comes on as his replacement for the hosts.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland at Rugby Park

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St Mirren have been carving out some chances in the last 10 minutes or so. Danny Mullen is getting the better of Alex Bruce, who replaced the injured Stuart Findlay.

Bruce looks to be struggling a bit having to slot in at the back after 22 minutes.

Hibs are denied the opening goal by a tremendous last-ditch block from Keith Watson against his former side.

Flo Kamberi does well to create space on the edge of the box, slips in Jason Naismith up the right, who cuts back for Josh Vela.

The Englishman's goal-bound shot is then brilliantly diverted wide on the slide by Watson.

Ouch!published at 15:39 British Summer Time 26 October 2019

15:39 BST 26 October 2019

Livingston 0-0 Hearts

Aaron Hickey is down by the touchline after Nicky Devlin careers into the young Hearts man. The man in the middle Greg Aitken is not interested in giving anything again and Devlin is perhaps lucky to get out of the 50-50 without a card and Hickey is lucky not to have picked up an injury.

Ross County skipper Marcus Fraser collects possession around 25 yards out, right of centre, but his rasping drive is straight at Chris Maxwell in the Hibs goal.

Good chance for St Mirren as Danny Mullen collects a looping ball, brings it down well, turns and fires at goalkeeper Laurentiu Branescu who parries it away.

Jonathan Sutherland
BBC Sport Scotland

You would never call this game a thing of beauty. In fact, a big game of human pinball is perhaps the best way to describe proceedings thus far. To be fair, plenty of incident - Ikpeazu should have scored one-on-one with the keeper, but Sarkic in the Livingston goal with a superb save.

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A neat back-flick from Sean Clare sends Uche Ikpeazu through one-on-one against Matija Sarkic but the 'keeper saves well. The big striker looked certain to bury it, but maybe thought about it a little too long and the man between the sticks stays on his feet to save well.

Can St Johnstone respond? Accies have some extra zip in their stride after that opening goal.

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Aymen Souda forces a decent save from Joel Pereira after striking from distance. The midfielder scooped the ball to the bottom left of the goal but the Hearts 'keeper got down smartly to concede a corner.

Nothing comes from the Alan Lithgow's header from the subsequent corner.