Tierney (42)
Strong (42)
Pinxten (43)
Hislop (45)
Brittain (47) |
Richard Hastings (86)
|
Appearances & Goals To Date
Starting Lineup
| Youngest Player: | Ross Tokely (27 years 38 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Grant Munro (2007 years 251 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 30 years 22 days |
| Domestic Players: | 10 (90.91 % of starting eleven) |
Matchday Squad
| Youngest Player: | Ross Tokely (27 years 38 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Rory McAllister (2007 years 251 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 30 years 22 days |
| Domestic Players: | 16 (94.12 % of matchday squad) |
First Team Debuts
Milestones
Ross Tokely scores for Caley Thistle but Richard Brittain and Colin Healy score for Livingston to keep their faint hopes of avoiding relegation alive. With Aberdeen winning against Hibs, the top 6 spot was lost regardless of this game so its off to Fir Park next week for the first of the post split games.
With Livingston fighting against relegation and Caley Thistle striving for a top six finish there was much at stake in this match. Livi had not won under John Robertson and it was ironic that this run should end against his former club.
Caley Thistle had it all to do after losing last week against Aberdeen – they had to win and Motherwell and Aberdeen had to drop points. ICT were without Ian Black and Alan Morgan came into the starting eleven.
Livi started well and Mark Brown was a busy man in the opening minutes. Caley Thistle took the lead in 16 minutes when Roddy McKenzie touched a Barry Wilson shot round for a corner. Richie Hart took the kick from the left and Ross Tokely headed home from an acute angle. At this point it was looking good as the Aberdeen and Motherwell matches were both goalless. Things changed rapidly when in 21 minutes the Dons took the lead against Hibs and, at Almondvale, Richard Brittain headed an equaliser for Livingston in 37 minutes. Colin Healy found Noel Whelan on the right and his chip to the back post was headed in from six yards by the unmarked Brittain. In the run up to half time referee Calum Murray booked four Livi players including substitute Steve Hislop who was warming up on the touchline.
Half Time: 1-1
A mistake by Harold Pinxten in 59 minutes allowed Dennis Wyness a clear run in on McKenzie. He rounded the ‘keeper but Greg Strong cleared off the line. A minute later Craig Dargo chipped over the advancing keeper but it cleared the crossbar. The visitors were convinced a penalty should have been awarded when Morgan was apparently fouled but amidst protests play continued. The winning goal came with ten minutes left - Brittain split the defence with a through pass and Healy ran on then hit low past Brown from 12 yards. Substitute Rory McAllister had two wide efforts in the closing minutes for Caley Thistle but Livi held on for a vital win.
Full Time 2-1
They still look like going down but have narrowed the gap to eight points and Dunfermline now lie eleventh. In the event Aberdeen beat Hibs 1-0 to clinch a top six place so ICT would have missed out even if they had beaten Livingston. Motherwell lost 1-0 to Rangers but it made no difference. For ICT the top six dream is over for another season and the target is now to overtake Motherwell to clinch seventh place.
Match report written by Ian Broadfoot
