Livingston 0-0 St Johnstone: David Martindale bemoans hosts' wastefulness

Neither St Johnstone nor Livingston could find a clinical edge

David Martindale believes his Livingston side are allowing “fear” to affect their Scottish Premiership performances after the stalemate with St Johnstone made it 11 games without victory.

The West Lothian club, four points adrift at the foot of the table, had numerous chances to score, with captain Michael Devlin spurning the best of them with the final kick.

“You progress through times of adversity, we’ve all got to dig in and work through this difficult period,” manager Martindale told BBC Scotland.

“You can’t let fear take over your decision-making on the park and that’s probably what we’re finding slightly. You are one game, one goal, one win away from everything changing.”

Reaction and as it happenedKeep up to date with LivingstonThe latest St Johnstone news

Luke Robinson’s effort was disallowed for St Johnstone, who moved level on points with eighth-placed Aberdeen, with neither of the league’s lowest-scoring club able to conjure a moment of clinical quality.

For all their issues in front of goal, this game did not lack for chances – only the accuracy required to take them.

Nicky Clark would have struck early on, if only Stevie May’s square ball was hit a little more gently, and Clark went near again when home keeper Shamal George failed to deal with a low free-kick.

Livingston’s powerful and energetic forward line caused St Johnstone some strife, while Jason Holt fizzed menacingly behind them.

The wily midfielder unleashed a vicious drive on the volley from 25 yards, bringing a flying stop from Dimitar Mitov.

Livingston pressed again after the break, Devlin and Kurtis Guthrie seeing efforts comfortably stopped, before Scott Pittman lashed wide when played through and Bruce Anderson hit the side-netting from a tight angle.

It looked like the decisive touch would never arrive, but it ought to have done deep into stoppage time.

Mitov palmed a tame cross straight to the feet of Devlin, but the captain skewed a first-time finish wide with his left boot.

Man of the match – Dan Phillips

The St Johnstone midfielder was calm and assured in the maelstrom.

Goal-shy teams toil for ruthlessness – analysis

Toothless attack has been the scourge of each side’s campaign, with neither scoring a first-half goal in 17 of their games.

Livingston have scored only twice on their winless 11-game streak and 10 in total this season, their issues summed up by Devlin’s last-ditch miss.

Martindale fielded virtually all of his most potent attacking players, but none were able to cleave St Johnstone open.

Visiting boss Craig Levein continues to steadily improve his team’s form, taking three wins and two draws from his first nine games at the helm.

They struggled at times to deal with Livingston’s aerial threats, but had chances of their own which could, perhaps should, have been turned into goals.

What they said

Livingston manager David Martindale: “We had 14 shots, three on target, and we are not converting any of them. The conversion rate needs to get a lot better – that’s the story of the game.

“There’s no magic formula or words I’m going to say, it is going to be someone coming up with that wee bit of quality to get us a goal.”

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein: “Our performance probably didn’t merit a win and I think Davie Martindale might say the same.

“It was two fairly nervous teams slugging it out. The result was safe football and generally safe football isn’t that entertaining.

“There are things we’d like to add in January. It’s difficult, there’s also this thing about keeping the wage bill under control. We need to move some players out as well. There might be a fair bit of activity.”

What’s next?

Livingston face a huge trip to fellow strugglers Motherwell on Saturday (15:00 GMT), while St Johnstone visit Dundee on Tuesday (15:00 GMT).

Line-ups

Livingston

Formation 3-5-2

1George

21Nottingham6Obileye5Devlin

19Nouble18Holt8Pittman22Shinnie29Penrice

9Anderson28Guthrie

1George21NottinghamSubstituted forMontañoat 77’minutes6Obileye5DevlinBooked at 64mins19NoubleSubstituted forBradleyat 80’minutes18Holt8PittmanBooked at 49mins22ShinnieSubstituted forKellyat 74’minutes29Penrice9Anderson28GuthrieSubstitutes3Montaño10Kelly12Brandon16Bradley20Sangare23de Lucas32Hamilton35Ledingham40Lawal

St Johnstone

Formation 3-4-2-1

1Mitov

17Olufunwa6Gordon19Robinson

2Brown34Phillips22Smith3Gallacher

15Kucheryavyi10Clark

7May

1Mitov17Olufunwa6Gordon19Robinson2Brown34Phillips22Smith3GallacherSubstituted forConsidineat 45’minutes15KucheryavyiBooked at 39minsSubstituted forCareyat 41’minutesBooked at 90mins10ClarkSubstituted forKaneat 79’minutes7MaySubstituted forSpranglerat 66’minutesSubstitutes4Considine9Kane11Carey16Jephcott23Sprangler27Turner-Cooke31Richards44Costelloe

Referee:Kevin Clancy

Attendance:1,602

Live Text

Match ends, Livingston 0, St. Johnstone 0.

Second Half ends, Livingston 0, St. Johnstone 0.

Attempt missed. Michael Devlin (Livingston) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.

Foul by Matt Smith (St. Johnstone).

Cristian Montaño (Livingston) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Attempt blocked. Michael Devlin (Livingston) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kurtis Guthrie with a headed pass.

Graham Carey (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.

Foul by James Brown (St. Johnstone).

Cristian Montaño (Livingston) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Sven Sprangler (St. Johnstone).

Kurtis Guthrie (Livingston) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Attempt missed. Bruce Anderson (Livingston) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by James Penrice with a cross.

Foul by Sven Sprangler (St. Johnstone).

Kurtis Guthrie (Livingston) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt blocked. Sven Sprangler (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Scott Pittman.

Attempt missed. Bruce Anderson (Livingston) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Steven Bradley with a headed pass.

Foul by Daniel Phillips (St. Johnstone).

Bruce Anderson (Livingston) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Chris Kane (St. Johnstone).

Player of the match

PhillipsDaniel Phillips

with an average of 8.11