Livingston break penalty jinx but settle for away draw against 10-man St Johnstone

Livingston were unable to pick up a second win of the season despite St Johnstone skipper Liam Gordon conceding a penalty and being sent-off in Perth as the Lions were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw.

A disjointed first half display offered little and they trailed at the break thanks to Dara Costello's finish that went through Shamal George on 35 minutes.

Gordon then proceeded to cost his team not once but twice after the interval. Livi were awarded a spot-kick when the skipper bizarrely bundled over Joel Nouble with the attacker going away from goal. Having fluffed their lines numerous times in the last 18 months from 12 yards, there was huge relief as Sean Kelly duly slotted home.

He then saw red on 83 minutes for a high challenge on Nouble but David Martindale's side were unable to find a late winner.

Both sides were restricted to half chances during a dull opening stage in which neither team were able to produce anything in the way of clinical attacking football. Luke Jephcott curled an effort wide from distance for the Saints while both Sangare and Parkes saw their attempts blocked from a Sean Kelly corner.

The hosts should have opened the scoring on 20 minutes when Graham Carey showed Jamie Brandon a clean pair of heels down the Saints left. His cutback was turned towards goal by Jephcott - only to be blocked by team-mate Costelloe.

The striker would make up for that on 35 minutes as he fired the hosts in front. Found in plenty of space by Dan Phillips, the on loan Burnley man slammed home his first for the club from 16 yards, although questions will be asked of Shamal George with the ball seemingly going through his arms as he dived to his right.

The Lions looked rattled by that setback with George having to deny