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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Callum Carson

Livingston remain without a point as they slump to defeat against Motherwell

Livingston are still searching for their first points of the Premiership campaign as they suffered a 2-1 loss at home to Motherwell.

The Lions had taken the lead on 38 minutes when Alan Forrest fired home from the left - but two second-half goals meant the points headed back to Lanarkshire.

Tony Watt nodded in the equaliser three minutes after the interval from close range before seeing the rebound from his strike on 79 minutes blasted into the net from close range by Liam Grimshaw for the winner.

The visitors started the brighter of the two sides and could have been in front in the ninth minute. Slack Livi defending allowed Mark O'Hara to collect the ball unchallenged from a free-kick but the midfielder fired wide from 12 yards out.

Livi would grow into the match following a slow start and had the ball in the net on 17 minutes after a well-worked free-kick routine was slotted home by Ayo Obilye - only for it to be disallowed by referee Craig Napier.

Both sets of fans, and players, took part in a minute's applause in the 34th minute in memory of Livingston fan and former club photographer Steven Carrie, who sadly passed away in May.

The home side got themselves in front shortly after when Bruce Anderson teed up Forrest on the edge of the box with the winger angling a perfect drive back across goal and into the far corner for his second of the season.

With their tails firmly up, the Lions looked to make it a quick-fire double but Odin Bailey could only fire harmlessly over after neat play in and around the box from the hosts.

Having played poorly towards the end of the first half, the Well came out of the blocks in fine fashion after the interval, levelling three minutes in.

A short corner-kick was met by Juhani Ojala with Watt in the right place to nod home at the back post for his third goal of the season.

Livi almost got themselves back in front within 10 minutes when Jack Fitzwater's tremendous long-ball over the top was met by Bailey who had raced in behind the defence. The Birmingham City loanee's first touch was too strong as Liam Kelly was able to claim the ball.

At the other end, Kaiyne Woolery fired tamely at Max Stryjek after working himself into decent position on the hour mark.

The Lions were playing some neat attacking football at times and from one such move should have found themselves in front 15 minutes from time.

The energetic Forrest did well under pressure on the left-wing to find Jackson Longridge, who duly fired the ball across goal with skipper Nicky Devlin blazing over when he looked certain to fire home.

They were made to rue that missed opportunity as the Well netted a few minutes later. Watt's effort was well saved by Stryjek but Grimshaw reacted the quickest to slam the rebound home from close range.

David Martindale introduced Jack Hamilton as the hosts searched for an equaliser and the young striker almost provided it as his header was clawed away by Liam Kelly.

Livingston: Stryjek; Devlin, Obileye (Hamilton 82), Fitzwater, Longridge; Holt, Pittman, Sibbald (Shinnie 30); Bailey (Kelly 60), Anderson, Forrest. Subs not used: Barden, Jacobs, Williamson, Panayiotou.

Goal: Forrest (38)

Motherwell: Kelly; Mugabi, Ojala, Lamie; Grimshaw, O'Hara, Slattery, Carroll; Amaluzor (McGinley 82), Watt, Woolery (O'Connor 90). Subs not used: Fox, Van Veen, Lawless, Crawford, Shields.

Goal: Watt (48), Grimshaw (79).

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