Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiership

Kilmarnock moved to within two points of third place in the Scottish Premiership after holding off a late Livingston fight back at Rugby Park.

Angelo Alessio's side continued their fine recent form, losing just one of their last seven league games.

Gary Dicker and Rory McKenzie scored for the home side, and, at the other end, they looked like they would make it six clean sheets in seven games.

But after Marvin Bartley hit the bar Lee Miller pulled one back for Livi.

Despite their improved performance late on, Gary Holt's side struggled to get anywhere near the level of performance that had felled champions Celtic two weeks ago, but remain safely ensconced in mid-table.

Kilmarnock win battle of attrition

With Livingston starting the day just ahead of their hosts on goal difference, this was always likely to be a battle of attrition.

Indeed, in the opening 30 minutes, the midfield area was packed to capacity with little room for creativity for either team as they continued to cancel one another out.

That, in turn, ensured that if we were to get a breakthrough, then set pieces would prove to be pivotal and just before the break that was certainly the case.

Chris Burke floated a free-kick into the Livingston box and, despite having no fewer than eight outfield players defending their goal, the visitors failed to clear and Dicker had time to pick his spot with a right-footed volley across goal.

After the break, however, the game began to open up with gaps beginning to appear, and the home side doubled their advantage after capitalising when the Livingston defence were caught napping.

Eamonn Brophy was allowed time and space to get a shot on goal from 12 yards and, although the effort was blocked, the ball eventually fell at the feet of McKenzie, who knocked it into the net.

After that, Livingston improved. Bartley had a long-range effort well saved by Laurentiu Branescu, and from the corner, the midfielder had a header that came back off the crossbar.

Nicky Devlin then fired in a cross that hit substitute Miller on the shin and diverted the ball beyond Branescu into the net, but it was no more than a late consolation.

Man of the match - Gary Dicker

Dicker's strength and passion in the heart of the Kilmarnock midfield gives everyone at Rugby Park a lift and his importance in the team cannot be underestimated.

But brute strength is not his only attribute. His finish for Kilmarnock's opening goal was one that any striker would have been proud of, picking his spot in the far corner well.

Attitude 'not acceptable' - reaction

Kilmarnock manager Angelo Alessio: "We need to improve in our attack. I think the second half we were much better, but in the end we deserved to win the game.

"I think we are building our season. It's early, this result is good for our confidence, but we'll take things step by step, game by game."

Livingston head coach Gary Holt: "I feel for my goalkeeper. He's had nothing to do for 90% of the game and he's picked the ball out of his net twice from two cheap goals, and it's not acceptable.

"But I questioned them to look at themselves individually and ask if they did enough today. We looked like we were waiting for someone else to take the bull by the horns."