Livingston 0-0 Partick Thistle: Tempers flare

PARTICK Thistle shared the spoils in a remarkably ill-­tempered goalless draw with Livingston.

Only the restraint of referee Iain Brines ensured the encounter finished with 11-aside. Livingston’s Jason Talbot was particularly lucky to remain on the field after two wild challenges.

A late bust-up involving, among others, Kyle Lander of the hosts and Thistle’s Ross Forbes and Aaron Sinclair, saw all three men booked when, in a competitive encounter, red cards could have been flashed.

In a timid 90 minutes of football, Partick had been marginally the better of two fairly ordinary sides. Only the effective left foot of Forbes provided any threat in a poor opening period, creating chances for Conrad Balatoni and Christie Elliot. On the cusp of half-time the former Motherwell playmaker then curled a fine effort inches past the post with Jamieson stranded.

Kris Doolan almost enlivened matters by meeting a low Sinclair cross with a stunning scissors-kick, but the effort kissed the crossbar and bounced to safety. A late Darren Jamieson save, rushing out to deny one of several trialists on show, ensured the match ended goalless.