Brooklyn Kabongolo scored for the second sport operating as Livingston fought again to earn some extent in a 1-1 draw with fellow William Hill Premiership strugglers St Mirren.
The Lions defender, who scored a shocking volley in final weekend’s 2-2 stalemate with Rangers, headed in a second-half equaliser to cancel out Dan Nlundulu’s purpose for the guests simply earlier than the break.
It was a outcome that suited Saints greater than Livingston with Stephen Robinson’s aspect sustaining the 10-point hole over the basement aspect.
Livingston’s place on the basement appears to be like more and more extra determined with each passing week as they proceed their seek for a primary league win since August.
Following final weekend’s 5-0 collapse by the hands of Motherwell, St Mirren supervisor Robinson made six adjustments for the journey to West Lothian.
Marcus Fraser, Jayden Richardson, Keanu Baccus, Scott Tanser, Nlundulu and Mikael Mandron had been all restored to the beginning XI.
And it was Richardson who got here near giving the guests the lead after simply six minutes. The wing-back obtained on the top of Tanser’s supply and his looping header hit the highest of the cross bar.
In a vigorous first half, possibilities got here at each ends of the pitch.
Mandron swept a left-footed shot from distance simply over after the Lions obtained caught making an attempt to play out earlier than Livingston striker Robbie Muirhead drove an effort huge from inside the realm.
Each of those groups have struggled for targets this time period so it was no shock that they had been wasteful within the last third.
The identical theme continued when Scott Pittman whipped a first-time shot huge from 15 yards in what was a promising place after being teed up by Liam Smith.
St Mirren goalkeeper Shamal George was then referred to as upon to repel a stinging Smith drive after Alex Gogic made a large number of making an attempt to move the ball again.
Nevertheless it was the away staff that stormed forward a minute earlier than the break by way of Nlundulu.
The striker was concerned within the construct up and was accused of dealing with the ball after falling to the bottom simply exterior the field.
Saints recycled the ball and Richardson performed in Mandron down the aspect of the realm and his cross was headed again throughout purpose by the striker.
It was a well-known feeling for Livingston because the second half restarted though the house staff ought to have drawn degree by way of Muirhead.
The striker discovered himself in house from a Macaulay Tait move however his right-footed shot from an angle was pushed behind by George.
The second interval was not so open with the battle turning into extra confined to the center of the pitch.
Livingston stored preventing and their perseverance paid off within the 76th minute with one other purpose from Kabongolo.
Substitute Barrie McKay swept a deep cross into the realm the unmarked Kabongolo confirmed nice composure to direct his header into the nook of the online from 10 yards.
Fellow substitute Joel Nouble then headed a McKay nook over from shut vary in what was the final significant probability of the sport.
What the managers stated…
Livingston boss Marvin Bartley:
“It’s seven points at this moment in time, with nine games to go. It’s something that can be turned around really, really quickly.
“We’ll preserve chipping away till we get to the break up after which we’ll see the place we’re at.
“But this team’s more than good enough to do so.
“You recognize we won’t hand over. We’ll get out of this example we’re presently in.
“We spoke to the players when I first came in to take over as manager that we need to get as close as we possibly can by the split. And then after the split, we’ll see where we’re at but we’re a point closer.”
St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson:
“It’s a point gained. It was a disappointing goal we conceded because I didn’t see Livingston scoring.
“It is a lengthy crazy ball into the field, that’s once more one other poor particular person determination and we get punished by it.
“It’s a really poor goal but there were a lot of positives in it.
“I believed the primary half we had been good. We pressed significantly better, we regarded much more stable and we hit the crossbar.
“But ultimately it takes us another point away from Kilmarnock and another point closer to the teams above us as well.”