Livingston 4 - 2 Ross County: Endangered Lions roar to vital victory

Published on Saturday 31 January 2009 18:46

One 10; Davidson 14; Mackay 45 pen; Griffiths 90 Hart 50; Higgins 86

CRISIS? What crisis? Despite another turbulent week for Livingston off the park, Paul Hegarty's charges illustrated a togetherness on it, breathing life into their promotion ambitions, even if they had to survive a late scare.

In times of trouble, a dressing room can often find new solidity and the evidence was overwhelming in that regard at Almondvale, especially in a dominant first half from the hosts.

Coventry City-bound James McPake, Livi's former captain, said his goodbyes pre-kick-off, but others appeared to quickly assume the armband. Inside 14 minutes, the Lions roared to a two-goal lead that proved decisive.

The build-up, of course, had never suggested such a turn of events. The game had even been in apparent doubt. Strike action, however outlandish a suggestion, was discussed by irate Livi players angered at again not receiving their monthly wages. Only once this season have they been paid on time.

Yet if you listen to the club's Italian owners, all is well. Monies, according to chairman Angelo Massone, were deposited correctly; talk of downing tools was never mentioned to the board or Hegarty. All "false claims", read a club statement.

A misunderstanding on the date the players are paid each month appears to be at the root of the problem, but Hegarty played down the situation.

"The players have been magnificent," he said. "This came to light in the latter part of the week, but the boys have been great. What has happened does not concern me or the players. I'm sure the money will be in accounts over the weekend. I can assure you we have not have talked about these things in the last 48 hours, we just concentrated on getting a win."

Centre-half McPake's early release – aiding coffers through a five-figure nominal fee – may yet hamper Hegarty's cause, but they survived without him yesterday, the breakthrough coming from home debutant Armand One 10 minutes in. The giant Frenchman, back in Scotland after a spell in Finland, muscled out Andy Dowie and tucked under Derek Soutar, even if the custodian got some of the ball.

After four games without victory, Livingston could not have picked better opposition. In 15 previous attempts stretching back to October 1995, County had never triumphed in the fixture. That statistic was never in danger, a simple second goal arriving four minutes later.

Anthony McParland's corner was arced to the head of Murray Davidson and the midfielder, unmarked, had a simple task to nod beyond Soutar. "The first 14 minutes killed us, two very bad goals we lost," moaned Derek Adams.

It was the 34th minute before the Dingwall outfit offered a riposte, Dyron Daal's fizzing 20-yarder deflected past and Roddy McKenzie then turning round a Richie Hart drive.

If the close calls offered the visitors hope, it was soon extinguished on the stroke of half-time.

Alex Keddie hauled back Leigh Griffiths as he was about to shoot and Dave Mackay netted the penalty with the same emphatic style as the majority taken at Hampden in midweek.

Given their lacklustre display, County's flurry after the break was perhaps inevitable, yielding a quick reply at the back post from Hart.

Daal should have reduced arrears further on 67 minutes, before Sean Higgins did so with a fine free-kick to set up a tense finish. However, Griffiths broke clear in injury time to settle it.