Livingston picked up their first victory since early October - a run of nine games - with a hard-fought win over Kilmarnock.

The West Lothian side moved up to seventh after extending Kilmarnock's win-less streak to seven games.

After a frustrating first half, Jon Guthrie broke the deadlock nine minutes in to the second half with a close-range finish from a set-piece.

Then goals from Lyndon Dykes and Steven Lawless confirmed all three points.

The victory was Livingston's first since a surprise 2-0 win over Celtic on 6 October and only their second in 14 games.

Livingston take advantage of sloppy Kilmarnock

As kick off approached in West Lothian, and the rain and wind had their own little sporting duel to see which could outdo the other (the swirling, driving rain took the prize - just), most people would rather have been anywhere else, doing anything else. Christmas present hunting with the crowds seemed like a more attractive proposition.

There was one hope: that the players of Livingston and Kilmarnock could transcend the conditions. As the old cliche goes, a big ask. But who knew a little Christmas cracker of a second half would break out, banishing all memory of a pretty turgid first?

In the first 45 minutes, there was no shortage of endeavour, energy or application - the traditional meat and two veg of the Scottish game. It's hardly appetising though, is it? The feast of football would come later, dished up from the home kitchen.

The only morsel worth a mention from the early exchanges, Aymen Souda's decent shot following a howler of a mistake in the Kilmarnock defence, who were bailed out by the positioning of goalkeeper Laurentiu Branescu, making the save look routine.

Souda seemed to suck the ball towards him, providing the tastiest teasers of what the match might have been in more benign conditions. A flowing Livingston move ended with the forward's inviting cross but no one was there to lap it up. Minutes later, Souda found himself in the area again, fed by Dykes, but his goal-bound shot was well blocked by a defender.

The last line of defence held up well for Kilmarnock. Even when Rickie Lamie's header from a corner seemed sure to break the deadlock, Branescu again was there to make a fine save before the ball was somehow cleared amid an almighty scramble.

Branescu's credentials for man of the match improved further with a terrific stop just before the break to allow his side to go in level. A cute back-heel from Lawless sent Scott Pittman into the box, one on one with the Romanian, who brilliantly blocked his shot with his feet.

But he could only hold out so long. And, curiously - following Kilmarnock's best spell of the match immediately after the break - Livingston scored. Souda's free-kick was met by the head of Lamie, and his knockdown fell nicely for fellow defender Guthrie to prod the ball over the line just before the hour mark.

Ten minutes later, and the hosts were further ahead. An excellent cross from Lawless superbly glanced in by the towering figure of Dykes - the sixth goal of an impressive season for the big striker.

In between the two Livingston strikes, nearly a bizarre own goal from defender Dario Del Fabro when attempting a routine pass back to Branescu, and a first real effort of note from Kilmarnock, thanks to an Eamonn Brophy shot which went just wide.

Not that the visitors deserved too much. In fact, the outcome could have been considerably worse had captain Gary Dicker not bailed out his defence with a last-ditch tackle to take the ball away from Dykes.

Another goal did come, though, and Dykes was again involved, collecting Craig Sibbald's fine pass before racing towards the area, spotting Lawless better placed, and setting up the midfielder for a cool finish ten minutes left. A well deserved goal for Lawless.

Man of the match - Steven Lawless

The nomination goes to the exciting, attacking midfielder. His was a display of skill, endeavour and intelligence.

Lawless set up the second goal, scored the third, and can be thoroughly satisfied with his days work, as can the rest of his Livingston team-mates.

'We more than deserved the win' - reaction

Livingston manager Gary Holt: "I certainly did enjoy that. We've had performances of late that have been really good. Today I think we more than deserved what we got.

"I've been a little bit disappointed with the way the boys have been after games but we were honest within our group to admit we never deserved to win some games."

Kilmarnock manager Angelo Alessio: "In the first half, we were in the game. I thought we played good football. Whereas in the second half, the first goal changed the game.

"We were ready for set-pieces and throw-ins but we conceded after a free-kick. Then it was difficult for us to get back in to the game. After the second goal my team lacked consistency and played badly."