Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiership

Ryan Hardie's first goal of the season gave Livingston all three points as Gary Holt's side overturned a first-half deficit at home to St Mirren.

St Mirren took the lead before half-time through Alfie Jones' first goal for the club, but Scott Pittman equalised after the break.

Hardie, who was making his first start of the season, put the hosts ahead shortly after from close range.

And Craig Sibbald's tap-in secured the points in the closing stages.

The result means Livingston return to the Scottish Premiership's top six and maintain their impressive home record, losing just once this season.

St Mirren remain second from bottom and winless away from home.

A game of two halves

Livingston's performances in either half were poles apart. A laboured and inspiration-lacking opening 45 minutes were replaced by a familiar spirited and potent second-half showing.

Hardie was the most fitting person on the pitch to seal the victory. It was the on-loan Rangers striker's first goal of the season in his only start of the campaign so far.

He has been hampered by a long-term foot injury but there was no holding back when he put his laces through the ball and fired it high into the net.

Credit must go to Declan Gallagher, for it was he who put the initial low ball in for both Hardie's winner and Pittman's equaliser, and he himself would later go on to hit the crossbar with a looping header.

Pittman - a reliable and trusty performer in Livingston's midfield - was another merited scorer of his third goal of the season.

And Hardie was not the only one opening his account for the season, with substitute Sibbald's finish - after Danny Rogers could only parry Pittman's low effort - the former Falkirk midfielder first, too.

At one stage it had looked so bright for St Mirren. Jones' goal got them off to a good start but a lack of marking allowed Jones him space to do the business from Adam Hammill's exquisite delivery.

Alfie Jones headed St Mirren into the lead, but they folded after the break

'Livingston here to stay' - analysis

Livingston aren't going to go away. Every time we think the fairytale season back in the top flight is going to gradually descend into a relegation battle, they roar back with another victory.

They are now sixth in the table again, a point above Aberdeen and just three shy of St Johnstone, who have been getting high praise.

With Hardie finding his shooting boots immediately after returning from injury, you would have to think more good things lie ahead.

St Mirren had encouraging results against Hearts and Hibs recently but this shows there has not quite been a major turning point as yet - they need strengthening in the January transfer window.

'We're just embarrassed' - reaction

Livingston manager Gary Holt: "I'm over the moon. The second half performance showed how we have played for the majority of the time since I came in here. We don't look at our position in the table, we're not interested in it. We're interested in winning the three points and that showed today."

St Mirren manager Oran Kearney: "To be honest we're just embarrassed, the performance in the second half was just not good enough. There's no other way to describe it. Our lack of actions in the second-half leave me embarrassed and they leave the club embarrassed, which is very disappointing."