LUCK may finally be on Dundee’s side. This has been a long arduous season for the Dens Park outfit but, in beating Livingston to move up to 10th place in the table, there are now a few shafts of light appearing in their quest to avoid relegation.
The vital goal from Scott Wright – a majestic free kick swept in from 25 yards – was fit to win any game but arrived just five minutes after Livingston ought to have been awarded a penalty when Jesse Curran upended substitute Stevie Lawless in the box with the score still tied at 1-1.
Instead, referee Greig Aitken booked the Livingston player for diving and Dundee took full advantage of the reprieve to earn what could well be a crucial victory.
Livingston have still not tasted victory since beating Hearts in mid-December and Gary Holt cut a frustrated figure come the end of another defeat.
“It’s a stonewall penalty at a crucial point in the game,” said the Livingston manager. “We’ve talked about how to make it [refereeing] better but if they can’t decisions right then what chance have you got? The players are hurt because the official cost us.”
Holt was not quite as vociferous on the decision to send off Shaun Byrne for a reckless challenge on Andreas Hadenius after just 14 minutes.
“I thought it was a yellow but I’ve got no qualms if he deemed it a red because it was a mistimed tackle,” he admitted. “But that’s not what cost us.”
While Holt stewed, his opposite number Jim McIntyre savoured a first win in five matches for his Dundee side. Trailing at half-time, Andy Nelson’s header drew them level before Wright struck with the most sumptuous of free kicks.
“I think we deserved the win,” sad McIntyre. “Some of our stuff in the first half was really good but we were wasteful in front of goal. But it was an outstanding free-kick from Scott to win it. He deserves all the plaudits that will come his way for his performance and his wonder goal.”
Livingston hadn’t scored in their previous five matches so it perhaps wasn’t a surprise they sought comfort in familiar ways to take the lead here. All three of their centre halves were involved in the goal after 18 minutes; Alan Lithgow hurling in a long throw, Declan Gallagher helping it on, and Craig Halkett bundling it over the line at the back post.
Byrne’s dismissal left Livingston trying to repel Dundee’s wave of attacks for the remainder of the game but, sensing an opportunity, they had committed bodies forward to contest the long throw-in and reaped the benefits.
They fought doggedly for the remainder of the game with just 10 men only for that penalty decision and then Wright’s dead-eyed free kick to eventually prove their undoing. Even in the final minute there was heartache, with Dundee goalkeeper Seny Dieng making a terrific double save to keep Livingston out and ensure a precious away win.
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