NO one was more relieved than Esmael Goncalves that Livingston managed a dramatic comeback victory to maintain the club's chances of progressing to the knockout stages after being dismissed for a moment of madness midway through the first half.
Only the former Hearts striker knows what possessed him to completely lose the plot by lashing a kick at Cove Rangers defender Scott Ross, although he is no stranger to red cards during limited exposure to Scottish football.
After all, he was sent off twice during a 13-month spell with Hearts but it would hard to beat this incident in terms of utter stupidity and manager Davie Martindale was in no mood to forgive, despite picking up three vital points.
Of course goalkeeper Max Stryjek was also dismissed in their midweek defeat against Inverness Caley Thistle and another defeat would have ended the Premiership side's interest in the competition.
That was distinctly possible after a strike of real quality from Ian Vigurs, the classiest player on the park, who struck a crisp left foot shot from the edge of the area into the far corner of the net on the stroke of half time.
It took a second half performance of aggressive defending allied to quick counterattacks to retrieve the situation which leaves Livingston surely needing a win at home to Kelty Hearts on Saturday to make the last 16 again.
They certainly weren't behind for long as within three minutes of the restart Ayo Obileye had nipped ahead of Andrew Shinnie to stab in the equaliser while Devlin played a captain's role to snatch victory at the death.
The right back found the energy to break into the inside left channel to guide a pass from substitute Stephane Omeonga into the top right-hand corner of the net but that doesn't get Goncalves off the hook.
A frustrated Martindale said:"Isma knows he's let us down and I won't miss him but the boys dug him out a hole today.
"The boys showed real character but the situation with Isma is unacceptable. I don't agree with kicking someone off the ball and I'm not having it.
"I will deal with him personally and the club will deal with him but I thought the boys were immense. For me that's what this team is as it's all about the we, and not about the me and we showed that."
