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
Livingston
Squad number9Player nameAnderson
Squad number29Player namePenrice
Squad number8Player namePittman
Squad number18Player nameHolt
Squad number1Player nameGeorge
Squad number6Player nameObileye
Squad number21Player nameNottingham
Squad number28Player nameGuthrie
Squad number22Player nameShinnie
Squad number10Player nameKelly
Squad number3Player nameCristian Montaño
Squad number16Player nameBradley
Squad number19Player nameNouble
Squad number5Player nameDevlin
St Johnstone
Squad number34Player namePhillips
Squad number1Player nameMitov
Squad number6Player nameGordon
Squad number19Player nameRobinson
Squad number22Player nameSmith
Squad number10Player nameClark
Squad number7Player nameMay
Squad number3Player nameGallacher
Squad number2Player nameBrown
Squad number17Player nameOlufunwa
Squad number15Player nameKucheryavyi
Squad number11Player nameCarey
Squad number9Player nameKane
Squad number4Player nameConsidine
Squad number23Player nameSprangler
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