Livingston fired themselves up to third in the Premiership table as Cristian Montano's close range header against Kilmarnock made it back-to-back 1-0 wins.
The Lions made two changes to the side that beat Hearts 1-0 a fortnight ago with James Penrice and Esmael Goncalves dropping to the bench, replaced by Dylan Bahamboula and Kurtis Guthrie.
The hosts started the brighter of the two teams without really troubling Zach Hemming in the Killie goal. Stephane Omeonga went the closest after some great ball control on the half-way line from Montano.
His pass then found Joel Nouble, who knocked the ball beyond the static Kilmarnock defence with the midfielder rushing onto the pass but his shot went narrowly over.
Danny Armstrong was looking strong against Montano for the visitors on the right wing and he almost grabbed the lead. Christian Doidge nodded the ball for him to run onto before he crossed low across the face of goal, almost catching Shamal George out with the keeper needing two chances to collect the ball.
The game burst to life half way through the first-half with the Lions taking the lead. Livi won a corner after some tidy play down the right side, and Sean Kelly’s delivery found Montano at the front post. He made no mistake as his free header found the bottom corner.
Killie looked for an instant response and Livi had to ride out an uncomfortable passage of play which saw Joe Wright send Ryan Alebiosu down the right wing but his cross didn't find a blue shirt in the box.
The goal woke up both sides and the game burst into action with nothing really to show for it.
Nouble, as he has all season, showed his strength and power by keeping the ball away the defence and his pass found Jason Holt but his shot was well blocked.
Kilmarnock came out the second half looking for an immediate impact with Alebiosu making a run from deep in his own half before being stopped near the corner flag, illegally in the eyes of referee Grant Irvine. The resultant free-kick came to nothing, though with a Killie foul ending that threat.
Kurtis Guthrie had a great chance to double Livi’s lead minutes later. A Kelly free-kick from the right was played along the ground to Nouble, who played the ball back to Kelly. His cross fell to Guthrie who looked certain to poke the ball home from seven yards.
Brilliant defending from Wright left both players in pain on the deck, with Guthrie later having to make way, replaced by Goncalves.
A rare mistake from Nicky Devlin allowed Rory McKenzie through on goal, however his decision to cross the ball rather than take a shot appeared to be a poor one, as Doidge was unable to capitalise and the ball ran wide.
The moment of the half would fall to Scott Pittman, who had the chance to bury the Ayrshire side with 15 minutes to go.
Bahamboula applied pressure on Benjamin Chrisene on the right of the Kilmarnock box, forcing him to cough up possession, allowing the Livi winger the opportunity to run into the box. His cutback to Pittman left the midfielder with the goal at his mercy and only he would be able to explain how he managed to screw the ball wide of the left post.
The second half had been littered with mistakes and poor decision making from both sides with the hosts looking lethargic and a shadow of the side from the first half.
Both sides would pass up opportunities to find the net with Pittman nicking the ball off McKenzie in midfield and completing a one-two with Nouble before racing into the box and squaring to Goncalves, however it was a foot too far in-front of the number 10.
The visitors would have a chance to grab a fortuitous equaliser late in the game. Fraser Murray, who had just come on, sent the ball whipping into the box where it found Doidge completely unmarked. The Welshman’s header missed the target, throwing away their only chance of the half.
Livingston did well to control the game after that point, using Nouble’s strength and Holt’s intelligence to see out the game, utilizing the corner to keep possession in the Killie half, and securing the three points.
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