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Published: 2nd March 2022
The Terrors headed to West Lothian in the hopes of extending their unbeaten run to seven matches, the same target as when we faced the Lions at the Toni Macaroni Arena earlier on in the campaign coincidentally.
United's last win against Livingston came just over 12 months ago, when Adrian Sporle's opener within 60 seconds set the pace for a comfortable 3-0 victory, Lawrence Shankland notching a goal in either half to complete the scoring.
The gaffer made two changes to the side which left Pittodrie with a deserved point on Saturday, as Kevin McDonald and Dylan Levitt dropped out the side, the latter suffering from a muscular injury that ruled him out of proceedings. Into the starting eleven came Calum Butcher, who slotted into central midfield alongside Liam Smith and Ian Harkes, and Kieran Freeman.
After a Bruce Anderson header slid harmlessly wide, United opened the scoring on the third minute for a second consecutive match. Calum Butcher picked up a second ball just outside the box and lofted it wide for Niskanen on the left. The Finn fed Watt on the burst into the area and he just managed to keep it from crossing the line, delivering the ball across the area first-time and finding Smith, the makeshift midfielder steering it home on the slide from six yards.
The assist, though, was to be Watt’s last involvement, as he was withdrawn early due to injury, Nicky Clark entering the fray on 12 minutes to replace him.
It took until the 17th minute for either team to have another sniff of goal, again it was United as Ross Graham rose above Fitzwater to meet Charlie Mulgrew’s corner. The ball looked to be heading for the far corner but it cannoned back off a white shirt in the crowded area.
Following this chance, Livingston had an extended period of dominance, as United lost control of the midfield battle for second balls.
Joel Nouble proved difficult for Academy graduate Graham to handle, repeatedly winning the aerial battle for possession on the right and either bringing his teammates into play or looking to take the United defence on with his sharp footwork.
On the other side, Alan Forrest rode the challenge of Ryan Edwards and looked to be racing through on goal but Freeman recovered rapidly to nip the ball from his toes.
On the 23rd minute, Livingston restored parity through Scott Pittman. Nouble sprung above Niskanen to flick the ball on for the onrushing Anderson. He chopped inside Graham and picked out his colleague on the penalty spot who powerfully slammed his effort beyond the despairing Siegrist on the half-volley.
The game resembled more of a basketball match for a high-octane five-minute spell after the half-hour mark, both sides going full tilt om search of the goal that would give them the lead.
First, Obileye crashed his free-header over the bar, and then United countered from the resulting goal kick. Butcher won his individual battle in the centre-circle and fed Marc Mcnulty ahead of him who in turn found Freeman in space on the right. The Academy graduate delivered a first-time cross to the unmarked Niskanen at the back-post but he could only find Max Stryjek with his headed effort. Less than 60 seconds after this, Forrest sent a low effort from 18 yards skidding inches wide of Siegrist’s left-hand post.
Ryan Edwards came to the rescue as the match approached the interval, heroically throwing himself in front of Pittman’s first-time strike from the top of the D which looked to have Siegrist beaten.
The last chance of an opportunity-laden first 45 fell to Forrest, his snapshot trundling wide of the target.
The Lions began the second half as they ended the first, with Siegrist pulling off an important stop to deny Pittman’s sliding effort as he connected with Nicky Devlin’s drilled cross.
The introduction of Chris Mochrie allowed United to regain control of the middle of the park, Harkes and Smith combining well with the youngster to circulate the ball around Penrice and Forrest.
On the hour mark, United carved out a clear-cut chance to go back in front. Butcher once again regained possession with a well-timed interception and drove forward to commit Fitzwater, in turn opening space for Nicky Clark. Butcher stroked it into the path of the striker, but he crashed the ball into the side-netting from the left of the six-yard box to spurn United’s best opportunity of the game so far.
At the other end, Siegrist redeemed himself after a mistimed clearance which fell to Forrest, getting down quickly to make a fabulous, one-footed reaction save to deny the winger’s low drive.
The Swiss thwarted Forrest once again soon after, Devlin finding his teammate with an inch-perfect cutback who struck a curling effort towards the top corner, with Siegrist springing into the air to paw it to safety.
Substitute Kevin McDonald, who dictated play in the middle of the park, slashed his volley onto the head of McNulty from just outside the box, and the former Livingston man reacted well to divert the ball towards goal, but it unfortunately dropped onto the roof of the net with Stryjek rooted to the spot.
On the 82nd minute, United were dealt a cruel blow. Devlin found another rocket of space on the right to deliver into the area, and Edwards was left with no option but to attempt to prevent the ball from reaching Anderson at the back-post, inadvertently touching it beyond his own keeper and into the back of the net.
Courts’ side failed to recover from this setback, and the six-game unbeaten run came to an end at Almondvale. Next up is the visit of third-placed Heart of Midlothian on Saturday as we look to bounce back from a disappointing evening.
