Queen of the South 0 - 4 Livingston: QoS look increasingly destined for drop

Ten-man Queen of the South were dealt a severe blow in their relegation fight by a very impressive young Livingston side, writes Jack Robertson.

Queens had early pressure with Kevin Smith’s ball into the six-yard box cleared by Craig Barr just before Sam Parkin could get a touch.

There was much nervous tension in the air around Palmerston Park as Queens battled in search of valuable points in the First Division relegation issue.

Livi started slowly, however, on 17 minutes Mark McNulty broke clear on the left of the box before shooting narrowly wide of target.

Bobby Barr used his lightning pace to break on the left and he then crossed for Dean Cummings but Lee Robinson dived at his feet to save.

Barr then played a neat one-two with McNulty to go clean through, but he shot wide from a great position undoing his own creative work.

The goal was coming and on 27 minutes Rory Boulding sent a glancing header past Robinson from Barr’s perfect corner. On 35 minutes Queens went down to ten men when Chris Higgins was shown a straight red for a late tackle on McNulty.

The task got even more demanding for Gus Macpherson’s side on 38 minutes when McNulty clinically smashed home from Kevin McCann’s cross.

Livi were in complete control of the match and Keaghan Jacobs supplied a stunning 20-yard low drive on 72 minutes before Boulding side-footed home his second late on.