Livingston fall to fourth straight loss with defeat in Dundee

Livingston were edged out by a sublime Luke McCowan free-kick as they fell to a fourth defeat in a row thank to a 1-0 loss in Dundee.

While the performance was improved and plenty of chances were created, the Lions once again failed to produce the goods in front of goal and remain 11th in the Premiership table.

Livi boss David Martindale made just one change to the side that lost 1-0 at Hearts in midweek with Danny Lloyd being handed his first start for the Lions.

The visitors went into the game on the back of three straight defeats but they started brightly and took the game to Dundee. For all they enjoyed plenty of territory and possession, though, they fluffed their lines at crucial moments and were unable to make the most of chances created.

Stephen Kelly was the main culprit as he saw one effort blocked before being unable to get a shot off minutes later when in a promising position.

Dundee eventually grew into the game and only a crucial intervention at the back post from Jason Holt to turn the ball behind prevented Owen Beck with what would have been a tap in to open the scoring.

Livi squandered the best chance of the first half on 37 minutes when James Penrice's enticing delivery from the left was met at the back post by Joel Nouble, but the Englishman was unable to steer the ball the correct side of the crossbar for his liking.

Dees skipper Joe Shaughnessy was the difference between the sides when they met in West Lothian last week with a late brace and he almost opened the scoring in the early stages of the second half as his header flew across the face of goal.

Having had the better of the opening 45 minutes but not been able to turn it into a lead, the threat of that coming back to hurt the visitors was