Dismal defensive display sees Livingston crash to defeat in Kilmarnock

An abject defensive display from Livingston saw them slump to a 3-1 defeat at Rugby Park.

Danny Armstrong opened the scoring on 16 minutes after Corrie Ndaba's run and delivery found him at the back post and while Livi levelled through a Sean Kelly penalty, that appeared to merely galvanise the home side who controlled the rest of the game.

Kyle Vassell gave his side the lead before the break when poor marking allowed him to nod home an Armstrong cross before the skipper made it a double on the hour mark - again with the head. This time he glanced a David Watson cross over the keeper.

Killie looked threatening every time they got into the Livi half and the final margin could well have been greater had they turned possession into genuine chances.

Livingston were able to welcome back skipper Mick Devlin, who slotted into the heart of the back three having missed a month due to an ankle knock.

The visitors had the game's first chance just three minutes in when Sean Kelly's whipped delivery was met by the head of Joel Nouble but he could only direct it tamely wide.

Killie grew into the game and just as they were beginning to get on the front foot, they made it count as Armstrong fired home the opener. Neat footwork on the halfway line from Vassell sent Ndaba clear down the left flank with his delivery eventually falling to Armstrong who duly swept home his third league goal of the campaign.

Livi didn't bounce back from that blow and had Luiyi de Lucas to thank for not being two down almost immediately as the Dominican defender was able to get back and block Vassell's strike while Liam Polworth's shot from the edge of the box was deflected over the bar.

Having weathered that storm, they took full advantage just after the