Livingston 1-2 Partick Thistle
van Hoeven (44′) Reading (17′) Watt (62′)
Partick Thistle moved five clear of Livingston in the Scottish Championship after a back-and-forth battle at the Set Fare Arena, with an unlikely hero securing the win.
There was an early barrage of chances for the hosts, eager to move on from the disappointment of last week’s narrow defeat to Ayr. Bradley Van Hoeven motored towards the visiting defence and kissed the side netting from 20 yards in the opening minutes,
The hosts continued to press in a dominant spell, but the Thistle defence did enough to stop the resultant shot after Scott Pittman latched onto a loose ball in the box.
Livingston boss David Martindale would be scratching his head wondering how his side had not taken the lead – Jack Wilkie would go close from a corner before a tame Robbie Muirhead strike kept the scores level after 15 minutes.
The Thistle fans looked frustrated with their side’s passive opening, but took the lead with their first show of quality in the 17th minute.
Seb Drozd drove to the byline on the right flank before chipping an inviting cross for Patrick Reading to steer home in the six-yard box. A clinical move against the run of play, leaving the Lions with work to do.
The goal settled the visiting side, who grew into the game. A clipped pass evaded the Livingston back line for Euan Henderson to gather. The attacker’s crossed ball narrowly missed the onrushing Alex Samuel, to the disgruntlement of the home support.
Drozd found a handy pocket of space in the box after neat interplay on the left wing on the half-hour mark. The winger picked up his third assist of the season earlier in the match, and almost recorded his third goal with a powerful left-footed strike, forcing an instinctive save by Jerome Prior.
Livingston edged their way back into the match and equalised with minutes to go in the opening half.
Wilkie found space on the left wing before crossing a deep towards Van Hoeven; the Dutchman showed the composure that had been missing from their earlier chances, dispatching a left-footed strike low into the corner, to the delight of the home faithful.
Despite trailing for much of the opening half, Martindale’s side deserved a goal as Calum Scott blew for the break.
Bruce Anderson looked for a penalty in the opening minutes of the second half, drawing contact from Cale Loughrey in the penalty box. Calum Scott quickly blew his whistle, but brandished a yellow card for Anderson, believing contact was minimal.
Thistle registered their first opening of the second half after Henderson lofted a ball into the path of Ben Stanway. The midfielder took his right-footed strike early from the edge of the box, forcing a vital low save from Prior to keep the score level.
Livingston put together a positive passage of play on the hour mark after working through Partick’s press. Jordan Doherty collected the ball on the right flank before delivering a pinpoint back-post cross, which Tyrese Sinclair could not convert.
But the visitors would eventually reestablish their lead in the 62nd minute. Stanway’s initial strike was blocked, but the ball eventually worked to Reading on the left-hand side of the box. The left back drilled left-foot shot low towards the bottom corner which was diverted home by Tony Watt.
The home side huffed and puffed for an equaliser as the match drew to a close, but despite an influx of set pieces, they struggled to deliver clear-cut chances. Thistle secured a priceless win that moves them closer to the summit of the league.
Livingston: Prior 6 McGowan 5 Kabongolo 5 Doherty 6 Montano 5 Danso 6 Pittman 7 Sinclair 6 Van Hoeven 6 Anderson 6 Muirhead 7
Substitutes: Wilkie 6 Carey 6 May 5
Bookings: Anderson (50’)
Partick Thistle: Budinauckas 7 Reading 8 Ashcroft 7 Loughrey 6 McPherson 7 Stanway 7 Dempsey 7 Crawford 7 Henderson 7 Drozd 7 Samuel 6
Substitutes: Watt 7 Fitzpatrick 6 Letsosa 5 Ingram 5
Bookings: Drozd (55’) Fitzpatrick (67’) Watt (68’)
