Livingston Retain Faint Survival Hopes After Holding St. Mirren to Draw

St. Mirren missed the chance to put some breathing space between themselves and the relegation zone as they were held to a 1-1 draw by their hosts Livingston on a sunny February afternoon. 

The visitors had their first-choice midfield three all starting for the first time since the 1^{st of} November, and that seemed to breed early confidence as they started the brightest. Just six minutes in, a looping header at the back post from Jayden Richardson hit the crossbar, and ten minutes later a defensive mix-up allowed Killian Phillips to steal possession in opposition territory and feed the ball to Mikael Mandron, who fired over from the edge of the box. 

Livingston did eventually settle into the game somewhat and almost took the lead after a long ball poorly judged by Marcus Fraser allowed Robbie Muirhead in behind, who blasted over the bar from a tight angle.

It was the visitors who took the lead just before the break. Dan Nlundulu did well to bring a long ball under control, and after some physical work with two Livingston defenders, got the ball out wide. Mikael Mandron eventually crossed the ball into the box, and a well-guided header from Nlundulu capped off a fine bit of work from the striker to draw first blood. Livingston players were incensed that the goal stood with strong claims for a handball in the build-up, however after a relatively quick VAR check the goal was given. 

St. Mirren remained relatively comfortable throughout much of the second half, with that man Nlundulu once again involved after a nice turn in the box got him one on one with Jerome Prior, but the Livingston keeper made a huge save to keep the hosts within one. 

That turned out to be an important moment. With thirteen minutes left of regulation time, a high and looping cross from Barrie McKay was misjudged by Alex Gogic in the St. Mirren back line, allowing Brooklyn Kabongolo to score for the second game running with an excellent header past a stationery Shamal George in the St. Mirren goal. 

Livingston looked the more likely to win the game in the closing stages but couldn’t find what would have been a monumental winner as the game finished level.

Analysis

Marvin Bartley has steadied the ship at Livingston since he took the reins, with them becoming a much harder side to beat, evident by their recent results. However, today was a fantastic chance to find that evasive first win since August, and up against a St. Mirren side with one win in twelve coming into today’s game, it’s hard not to feel that it’s a huge missed opportunity.

They travel to Hibernian next, with a chance to earn a first away win in the Premiership since August 2023. They are going to need to start picking up points very quickly if they are to pull off the great escape. 

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For St. Mirren, it is yet another chance missed to drag themselves clear of immediate danger at the bottom of the table.

That’s now three games away from home to a winless-in-six-months Livingston in 2026 already, with St Mirren winning none of those. One win in twelve league games, the sole victory coming against the league leaders it is worth noting, is relegation form. There are growing fears that the same team who toppled Celtic to win a national trophy two and-a-half months ago are sleepwalking into the unthinkable of dropping down to the Championship.

The Saints travel to Dundee Utd on Tuesday night to play their game in hand on the two teams below them in the league. Win, and the gap grows to thirteen above Livingston and six above Kilmarnock. Lose, and it’s just three points that stands between them and a relegation playoff.