St Mirren's first game of the season at the Paisley 2021 Stadium ended in defeat as an early goal from Dale Carrick was enough to gain Livingston three points.
The Livi midfielder struck with just two minutes on the clock and that strike was enough for the visitors to hold on to for the rest of the match as they secured a big win in the Betfred Cup.
Kyle Jacobs' ball into the box was chested down into the path of Carrick who lashed the lions into a lead.
It was an early setback for Saints and it could've got worse almost immediately as Craig Samson had to deny Scott Pittman moments later. Gary Irvine was caught in possession by Danny Mullen who found Jacobs before he laid it off to Pittman with the Buddies goalkeeper doing well to block.
Steadily though St Mirren grew into the game after being rocked early doors. Cammy Smith almost had Saints level on 12 minutes as he got on the end of a Lewis Morgan cutback, but a deflection took it by the post.
Ross Stewart, making his home debut, nearly added to his goal against Stranraer on Saturday after being found in space on the right. The forward broke into the box and forced Neil Alexander to make a good stop at his near post.
Gregor Buchanan went close as he headed over from an Ian McShane corner before Morgan flashed an effort across the face of goal with no takers.
Stephen McGinn almost caught out Alexander with a curling effort but it was comfortably held by the experienced Livi keeper.
Half Time: St Mirren 0-1 Livingston
Saints forced a couple of corners after the interval but failed to make any count with Alexander not having a save to make.
Livingston went close to doubling their lead when Alan Lithgow rose above the St Mirren defence to head just over the bar from a free kick on the left.
Substitute Conor O'Keefe slammed the ball into the net with 77 minutes played, but the linesman's flag has already been raised after the youngster strayed offside after McGinn's flick on.
O'Keefe looked like he might bag his first St Mirren goal as he got on the end of a header down. The youngster's scissor kick was heading right into the bottom corner of the net, only for Rafa De Vita to be in the right place at the right time to block.
One last chance would come for Saints as the clock reached the 90 minute mark. A cross from Stelios was headed down by MacKenzie who looked to put it into the path of McGinn but the skipper was unable to reach the ball as trickled wide.
Full Time: St Mirren 0-1 Livingston
St Mirren: Samson, Irvine, Buchanan (Kirkpatrick 78), MacKenzie, Stelios, McGinn, McShane, Stewart (Sutton 61), Smith (O'Keefe 70), Morgan, Reilly
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Baird, MacPherson, Sutton
Livingston: Alexander, Lithgow, Halkett, Gallagher, Byrne, Pittman, Mullin, Jacobs (Todorov 62), De Vita, Mullen (Peters 79), Carrick (Longridge 33)
Subs Not Used: Maley, Mackin, Knox
Referee: Alan Muir
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Jim Burns
Attendance: 2,104
Match Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography
