Livingston can't make first-half dominance count as they settle for Dundee United draw
dailyrecord.co.ukLivingston stopped a run of four successive defeats - but threw away two points as a dominant first-half display could only net them a 1-1 home draw with Dundee United.Livingston boss David Martindale handed a first start to Dominican Republic international defender Luiyi de Lucas in a revamped backline that was without the injured Ayo Obileye and suspended Jack Fitzwater.The match was preceded by a minute's applause prior to kick-off in memory of former Livi chairman Bill Hunter, who brought professional football to the town in 1995 when he moved Meadowbank Thistle to West Lothian.Livi started brightly with Cristian Montano twice testing Mark Birighitti in the opening few minutes - the first a header from a Steven Bradley fee-kick before fizzing an angled drive that the Aussie did well to get down to at his near post.Bradley went even closer on 10 minutes as his wonderful touch from a Jason Holt pass bought him a yard of space on he edge of the box with the winger clattering the crossbar.
He would make no mistake shortly after when Joel Nouble danced his way through the United defence before teeing up the youngster to slam home from close range.The Lions were having all sorts of joy down the left flank with Kieran Freeman - already booked early on for a foul on Nouble - inexplicably escaping a second yellow on the half hour mark for dragging Montano to the ground as the Colombian looked to charge into the box.
Jim Goodwin smartly hooked the full-back at the next opportunity with Liam Smith being introduced.That substitution brought about a change in momentum as United grew into the game - and managed to somehow squander the simplest of chances to draw level just before the break.
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