SM
Newcastle vs. West Ham: 7 hrs 44 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
LL
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 29
Mar 9, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
SJ

3-1

Halkett (38'), Sibbald (46'), Pittman (92')
FT(HT: 1-1)

Livingston boss Holt delighted with birthday win

:Headline: Livingston boss Holt delighted with birthday win: ID:352870: from db_amp
The Lions are now 19 points clear of relegation danger.

Livingston manager Gary Holt was delighted his side gave him the 46th birthday he had asked for after the Lions came from behind to beat St Johnstone.

Craig Halkett, Craig Sibbald and Scott Pittman were on the score sheet after Saints captain Joe Shaughnessy had opened the scoring in the 14th minute.

The victory moved the West Lothian outfit 19 points clear of the Ladbrokes Premiership relegation zone and to within five of the top six.

Former Scotland midfielder Holt was thrilled with his team's response to going behind.

He said: "It's a nice present and I asked them for it before the game. I asked them for three points.

"We pride ourselves on clean sheets and not giving goals away, but I said I'd rather take three points today.

"It's always more satisfying when you have to come from behind to do it. It shows character, resilience and everything we're about."

Asked if his side could consider themselves safe with nine games left, Holt said: "There are still 27 points to play for.

"We don't want to focus on being safe already and the season peters out because a malaise sets in."

St Johnstone threatened to spoil Holt's birthday after Shaughnessy fired in Sean Goss' corner after 14 minutes.

But Lions captain Halkett levelled seven minutes before the break with a close-range header before Sibbald nodded in Scott Robinson's cross 42 seconds after the restart.

Saints substitute Tony Watt missed a gilt-edged chance to level in the 89th minute before Scott Pittman added a third in added time.

Saints manager Tommy Wright, whose side have not won in nine matches and are four points adrift of the top six, said: "Tony's chance is a big one.

"He's obviously gutted and he's apologised.

"You don't miss them deliberately, but it's the best chance of the game.

"It's a bad run. We've been here before and it's not nice, but we've caused it ourselves. We've got to learn to defend better.

"I've asked the players where do they want to play their last five games.

"For parts of the game they showed me they want to be a top-six side.

"But that bad spell has killed us and then we didn't show enough urgency. We didn't create enough opportunities."

amp_article__352870 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-03-10 10:43:50:
html db last update - 2019-03-10 10:43:50 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Gary Holt

Click here for more stories about Livingston

Share this article now:
Read more about Gary Holt Football
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1FalkirkFalkirk1511222891935
2Livingston148511910929
3Ayr UnitedAyr158432314928
4Partick ThistlePartick14653179823
5Queen's ParkQueen's Park156451616022
6Raith Rovers144371318-515
7Hamilton AcademicalHamilton144371925-615
8Greenock MortonMorton143561119-814
9Dunfermline AthleticDunfermline153391116-512
10AirdrieoniansAirdrieonians141211627-215
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .