Livingston

  • 6-5-1
  • 2nd in Scottish Championship

    Livingston beat Partick to win promotion to Scottish Premiership

    Livingston clinched promotion to the Scottish Premiership after beating Partick Thistle 3-1 on aggregate in the play-off final.The Lions ended a 12-year absence from the top flight of Scottish football after beating the Jags 1-0 in the second leg to send Alan Archibald's side down to the Championship.It is a second promotion in as many years for David Hopkin, whose side have exceeded expectations and backed up their 2-1 win at the Tony Macarnoi Arena on Thursday.Keaghan Jacobs scored his second goal of the tie to all-but finish it early in the second half and Conor Sammon missed a late penalty that would have only given the hosts a slim chance.There was a real edge to proceedings in the early stages, with Thistle keen not to let the visitors have it all their own way.Livingston gave as good as they got though, and for all their intent the Jags still struggled to string together any sort of attacking threat.The opening 20 minutes was littered with stoppages in play with the visitors happy to slow the game right down to the frustration of the crowd.Thistle enjoyed the majority of possession, but the little threat they offered in the opening half hour was from out wide and that played right into Livingston's hands as their three centre-backs were able to deal with crosses into the box, despite being forced further and further back.Jordan Thompson and Shaun Byrne each saw shots blocked inside the Jags' area before Blair Spittall forced a fine save - the first of the match - with a drive from outside the area that was heading towards the bottom corner.Despite their best efforts to gee the team on, a lively crowd grew steadily more anxious with their side 45 minutes away from losing their Premiership status.The killer blow came in the first minute after the break, and again it was Jacobs on target with his third of the season, stroking in from the edge of the area after a cross was knocked back into his path to open up a two-goal lead in the tie.The game returned to the pattern of the first half, with Thistle dominating but not threatening.Blair Spittall, Steven Lawless and Christie Elliott eventually had shots easily saved by Neil Alexander, but the hosts never looked like they believed they could close the two-goal gap.Home fans started to leave the stadium early as it became clear their five-year stay in the Premiership was coming to an end, and Sammon's miss from the spot merely compounded a bad afternoon as Livingston clinched promotion.
    • 6Y
    • PA Sport

      Livingston seize initiative in play-off final

      Livingston are one game away from Premiership football after seeing off Partick Thistle 2-1 in the first leg of the play-off final.No team has been promoted through the play-offs since 2014, but David Hopkin's side are just a draw away from the top flight after a deserved win over Thistle.They came into the final on a high after seeing off Dundee United, but after Kris Doolan scored early on it looked as though it could be a long evening for the West Lothian outfit.However, Keaghan Jacobs scored and Scott Pittman added a second after the break on a night when the hosts missed several chances to put the tie out of sight, despite going behind early on.Doolan had already threatened inside the area and he did not need a second invitation as he gleefully accepted Baily Cargill's brilliant cross from deep on the left to head into the corner.If any Livi fans were concerned their team could get blown away by the Premiership outfit, they were soon reassured as they regrouped quickly to hit back just three minutes later.It took an error from goalkeeper Tomas Cerny to level the scores, but it was Jacobs who claimed the goal after hitting a first-time effort back across Cerny from the right. The Thistle stopper could not get a firm enough hand to the ball and saw it slip through his grasp into the goal.Livingston have attracted attention for their physical approach this season, but there were hefty challenges flying in from both sides. However, the hosts' direct approach was paying off as the Jags dropped deeper inside their own half.Jordan Thompson should have hit the target when he drilled wide before Cerny pulled off a brilliant save to keep out Lee Miller's header as Thistle continued to live dangerously.The pace dropper after the break, but once again it was the second tier side who started to dominate as the game went on against a Thistle side that looked short on ideas and bereft of confidence.Pittman, who scored a memorable winner at Tannadice in the semi-finals, almost gave the Lions the lead just after the hour, but Cerny got down well to save with his feet after a jinking run from halfway.The hosts soon had the advantage they deserved after substitute Josh Mullin burst down the right and drilled a low ball across the area from the byline and Pittman made the run to the near post to prod it into the roof of the net.After seeing out the remainder of the game, Livingston ensured they would only need a draw at Firhill on Sunday to secure their place in the top flight.
      • 6Y
      • PA Sport

        Livingston beat Dundee United to edge closer to top-flight return

        Livingston battled through to the Ladbrokes Premiership play-off final with a 4-3 aggregate win over Dundee United, following a 1-1 draw at the Tony Macaroni Arena.The Lions led 3-2 from a thrilling semi-final first-leg at Tannadice and defender Alan Lithgow stretched that advantage with a close-range header after only six minutes.Midfielder Scott Fraser drew United level in the 21st minute with a fine finish to give Csaba Laszlo's side hope of a comeback but they could not get any closer during a frantic and at times feisty 90 minutes.David Hopkin's men will likely play either Ross County or Partick Thistle - Hamilton are all but safe as they are three points and 13 goals better off than second-bottom Jags with one game remaining - with their respective fates being decided on Saturday.The first-leg of the final is on Thursday with the return game on the following Sunday.After such an encouraging result on Monday night, Livi showed only one change with midfielder Keaghan Jacobs in for Scott Robinson, who dropped to the bench.United were without captain and midfielder Willo Flood, who was sent off in the first leg, with Grant Gillespie taking over and defender Mark Durnan coming in for Jamie Robson.With fans still streaming into the ground the home side forged ahead.A searching free-kick by Jacobs was headed across goal by Jackson Longridge and the on-rushing Lithgow had the easiest of tasks heading it over the line.The Taysiders' response was impressively robust and they deservedly equalised when veteran striker Scott McDonald set up Fraser who twisted and turned inside the box before firing the ball low past keeper Neil Alexander and in off the far post.United edged the rest of the half and at the interval many of their big support moved behind the goal they were shooting into in the second half.However, the first of the action came at the other end when Scott Pittman beat United keeper Harry Lewis with a drive which rattled the post, the Tannadice goal surviving with some desperate defending.United looked more proficient in attack and the West Lothian rearguard were asked further questions which were answered, occasionally at a stretch.Livingston edged forward with increasing confidence as time began to run away from United. In the 68th minute, from a Lithgow throw-in into the box, Tannadice defender Bilel Mohsni appeared to handle in his attempt to clear but referee Don Robertson ignored the penalty claims.At the other end Billy King forced a decent save from Alexander with an effort from the edge of the box and the former Rangers keeper made a better save from McDonald's close-range shot, after Livi substitute Robinson had crashed a shot off the bar.However, the visitors ran out of belief and ultimately time, leaving Livingston one step closer to a top-flight return.
        • 6Y
        • PA Sport
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        2024-25 SPFL Championship Standings

        TeamGPWDLGDP
        Falkirk12921+1729
        Livingston12651+623
        Ayr United12633+721
        Partick Thistle12543+419
        Queen's Park12543+119
        Hamilton Academical12435015
        Raith Rovers12426-414
        Greenock Morton12246-910
        Dunfermline Athletic12237-49
        Airdrieonians12129-185

        2024-25 Team Leaders

        Scottish Championship

        Rankings

        Scottish Championship

        Goal Difference
        6
        3rd
        Goals Scored
        14
        3rd
        Assists
        13
        1st
        Goals Conceded
        8
        Tied-2nd