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Livingston earned their fourth win in five matches through a second-half Scott Pittman strike, inflicting St Johnstone's first defeat since the end of November.

A composed right-foot finish steered home a Lyndon Dykes cross to convert pressure into points for the home side.

The visitors piled on late pressure, but Rangers loanee Robby McCrorie held on for a clean sheet on his debut.

The win keeps Livingston in fifth, ahead of Hibernian on goal difference.

Goalkeepers to fore in compelling contest

Given the good form of both sides, this was a match which promised much but took a while to deliver. Would we be royally entertained? Or would the pair cancel each other out in a goalless stalemate?

It was definitely a case of the latter in the first half. That said, this was far from a match devoid of incident, with plenty of attacking intent from both sides.

Stevie Lawless, Scott Robinson and Lyndon Dykes looked lively for Livingston; Michael O'Halloran and Drey Wright were sprightly for St Johnstone down the flanks.

Robinson had the ball in the net for the home side after a quarter of an hour but he was well offside from Dykes' flick on.

Up the other end, a very decent shout for a penalty kick for the visitors, when O'Halloran seemed to be barged by centre-back Ciaron Brown, sending him crashing into goalkeeper McCrorie.

Half an hour in, a Steve Lawson free-kick found the outside of Zander Clark's left-hand post before McCrorie then justified the faith shown in him by manager Gary Holt. The goalkeeper had to get down well to deny O'Halloran, then readjusted to get across goal and save Jason Holt's shot from the edge of the area.

Lawless fizzed a great ball across goal but there were no takers, as Livingston warmed to the task and they could - maybe should - have taken the lead in first-half stoppage time, but Jon Guthrie headed fellow centre-back Brown's fine cross just wide.

Within a few minutes of the restart, there were crucial saves from both keepers before Livingston got themselves ahead.

Pittman was left with his head in his hands when his terrific, long-range, goal-bound effort was superbly tipped over by Clark. Straight up the other end went St Johnstone in a lightning break - Wright squared for O'Halloran, who was bravely denied by the outrushing McCrorie.

Then the goal before the hour - a fine ball in from the Livingston left, tidily tucked away into the corner by Pittman for the midfielder's third of the season. He almost added a fourth, but again, watched on as Clark beat away yet another powerful effort.

McCrorie nearly blotted an otherwise perfect debut copybook in the last 15 minutes when he rushed from goal but failed to gather, but Brown threw himself in the way of O'Halloran's net-bound drive.

St Johnstone threw all three subs on in an effort to drag themselves level - the home side did the same, to try to stem the blue tide - and it was Livingston celebrating another precious three points at the end.

Man of the match - Scott Pittman

Either goalkeeper could easily get the award. McCrorie keeping a clean sheet on his debut and opposite number Clark pulled off several fine saves to keep Livingston at bay.

However, it was one man in particular he foiled time and again - goalscorer Pittman.

As well as scoring the only goal, he was tidy in possession, kept things going through the midfield, and peppered the St Johnstone goal with some terrific long-range shooting.

McCrorie 'exceptional' - reaction

Livingston head coach Gary Holt: "Robby McCrorie, for his debut and being a young lad coming in, was exceptional.

"His handling was perfect - he knew when to come and stay and helped the boys in front of him. He made crucial saves and didn't look flustered."

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright: "That goal should have been easily snuffed out and defended.

"It is one mistake we haven't been making in recent games, but a mistake that led to their goal."