Livingston fail in top six bid with poor showing in Dundee United defeat

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Livingston's top six hopes were dashed as they fell to a tame 2-0 defeat at Dundee United.Jamie McGrath's long-range strike on 17 minutes as the difference in a rather timid first-half before Steven Fletcher wrapped things up five minutes from time.Tannadice had been a happy hunting ground for the Lions in recent seasons, having won four of their last five visits, and they went into the clash knowing a win was needed to squeeze back into the top six on the final day before the split.

Even that, though, might not have been enough as they needed either St Mirren to lose at home to Kilmarnock or Hibs to drop points at McDiarmid Park against managerless St Johnstone.Both of those things happened - but Livi failed to get going and offered little.David Martindale named an unchanged starting line-up from the won that clinched a 2-0 win last weekend that ultimately spelled the end for Callum Davidson as St Johnstone gaffer.

Centre-back Tom Parkes was named in the squad for the first time since December 2021 following a knee injury. It was a slow and measured start from both sides with each team seemingly content with growing into the contest.Indeed, McGrath's piledriver from 25 yards was the first effort of note in the clash.

The Irishman was afforded far too much room as he took a touch to steady himself before firing beyond the reach of Shamal George from distance.The keeper had to be at his best just five minutes later to turn an Ilmari Niskanen effort wide at his near post to keep the visitors in the contest while the Lions offered little going forward.