SPECULATION about new investment was put aside as Livingston focused on the more immediate need for crucial league points in the battle to beat the drop.
There had even been speculation through the week that the trim Almondvale ground may be developed to incorporate a greyhound track. However, the players of both Livingston and basement rivals Clyde just wanted to ensure they came out on top.
Inste
ad they had to be content with a point apiece, an outcome which does little to advance the survival prospects of either side.
Almondavle, said to be waterlogged in mid-morning following heavy overnight rain, survived a lunchtime inspection and, with the pitch firm, the biggest problem for both sets of players was a fiercely swirling wind that often blew the ball off course. One early example saw a cross by Leigh Griffiths carried harmlessly out for a goal kick when it had appeared well measured for Robert Snodgrass at the back post.
Snodgrass managed to get on the end of Lee Makel's flighted free kick but his head flick was easily gathered by David Hutton. The Clyde keeper was more severely tested by the same player moments later, diving low to his left to smother the striker's curling effort following a slip by Neil McGregor.
Livingston should have broken the deadlock in 20 minutes when Snodgrass played an early ball through the centre of the Bully Wee defence and Griffiths found himself clean through. However, the young striker sent his 18-yard shot narrowly over the bar.
A fine Livi move saw James McPake pick out Dave Mackay on the right and his cross looked inviting for Griffiths until Hutton did enough to distract his prowling rival. Mackay then sent a square pass to Snodgrass who turned Christian Smith on the edge of the box only to shoot a foot wide.
Graham Dorrans, described by manager Mark Proctor as the best player in the first division, was struggling to make any impression against a well organised Clyde defence. However, the visitors had little to offer as an attacking force as they battled into the wind during the first half.
It was a different story on the restart with Michael McGowan immediately having his side's first shot on target before Kevin Bradley's chip to the far post had the Lions retreating again. Bradley came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock when his angled snapshot struck the inside of a post with Colin Stewart beaten.
McGowan then saw his raking free kick slip narrowly wide as the rejuvenated Bully Wee suddenly looked like a team intent on first division survival.
They were almost caught out, though, when Makel's deep cross eluded Hutton and fell for substitute Chris Malone who stabbed it goalward from a tight angle. However, the Clyde keeper made amends with a last-ditch save. Hutton was quick off his mark to prevent Griffiths getting on the end of a Snodgrass through ball.
Clyde boss John Brown committed all three substitutes in a bid to find that elusive breakthrough, which almost came through Steven Masterton's inswinging corner, but the ball was headed off the line by Snodgrass.
Livingston: Stewart, Mackay, James, McPake, McCaffrey, Makel, Dorrans, Walker (Malone 58), Griffiths, Fox, Snodgrass. Subs: MacDonald, Davidson, Jacobs, Lunn (GK).
Clyde: Hutton, McGregor, W Gibson, Higgins, Bestvina, Wilson (Masterton 81), Bradley (Mackay 74), Smith, D McGowan, MacLennan (J Gibson 81), M McGowan. Subs: Campbell,Cherrie (GK).
Referee: S Nicholls
The full article contains 586 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
