Dundee United 3 Livingston 1

Last updated : 13 March 2006 By Footymad Previewer
When you are down they say your luck is out and this was certainly the case for Livingston at Tannadice.

Against a Dundee United side which, for most of the game, looked as if it was they who were prime relegation candidates, the visitors were the more skilful, playing with great spirit but costly defensive errors robbed them of three valuable points.

After an opening period of continuous pressure, Livi grabbed a deserved lead in the 17th minute with an excellent strike from Sam Morrow. Jumping for the ball with Barry Robson, the on-loan striker from Hibs took advantage of the break, pulled the trigger and zipped a low 30-yard shot past the diving Derek Stillie.

And it was almost two five minutes later when Allan Walker took advantage of more inadequacies in United's defence, firing in a 20-yard drive which narrowly missed.

It really was all Livingston at this point encouraging the United fans to voice loud cries of derision at their much maligned players as the tension around the ground became more and more tangible.

Approaching the half hour, Morrow went down under last man Garry Kenneth's challenge, but ref Craig Thomson rightly adjudged it not to be a foul.

However, Livi boss John Robertson thought otherwise completely losing his cool; eventually being sent out of the dug-out by the official.

The dispirited Terrors almost equalised in the 32nd minute when Mark Kerr's cross was headed into the top corner by David Robertson only for Roddy McKenzie to magnificently save.

Two minutes later the keeper again blocked a certain Lee Miller goal.

But the Scotland Futures striker was rewarded in the 68th minute. Latching on to Kenneth's cross, he shrugged off Greg Strong, wheeled and struck the ball low into the corner of the net from 14 yards for an equaliser very much against the run of play.

Then disaster struck for the undeserving visitors when in the 77th minute Strong, again, failed to clear allowing Kerr to smack a 14-yard left-foot shot past the stranded keeper.

And the heavens caved in for Livi two minutes later when Miller sealed the game. Flicking the ball over Manu Dorado, the striker showed great determination to win the challenge and stab the ball home from six yards.