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Dundee U 0 – 1 Livingston


Livingston won the Scottish Premiership season with a tight 1–0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice.

Cristian Montano scored the only goal of the game – his first for the club – early in the second half.

Livingston's Christian Montano celebrates a 1-0 win over Dundee United
Picture:
Livingston’s Christian Montano celebrates a 1-0 win over Dundee United

It was a disappointing defeat for the hosts, who now have to take on themselves the second leg of their Europa Conference League third qualifying round tie against AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands on Thursday.

How Livingston secured a close victory

Before kick-off, there was a minute of applause for United great Finn Dossing, who passed away in June.

Livingston produced the first opener of the game in the fifth minute when Joel Nouble passed the ball from the right to Sean Kelly on the edge of United’s penalty area but he shot wide into the post of goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.

After that early opportunity, both sides struggled to find opportunities for further expansion.

As half an hour passed, there was a chance for the home side to flash when striker Steven Fletcher came down from long distance but Livi goalkeeper Shamal George saved it.

Fletcher tried his luck again with a speculative long shot but his effort went wide of the post.

The Lions then produced a promising breakthrough from inside their inning, with Montano eventually finding space on the left but his shot missed target and both sides went down. tunnel into the break with the game still goalless.

Glenn Middleton of Dundee United and Christian Montano of Livingston
Picture:
Glenn Middleton of Dundee United and Montano of Livingston

However, the deadlock was finally broken in the 49th minute.

Nouble hit a shot which Birighitti saved well but bounced back to Nicky Devlin, who followed Montano and he unleashed a thunderous shot from 20 yards that flew past the keeper and into the net.

United had a chance to respond immediately but Tony Watt’s shot from close range was superbly saved by George.

The home team continued to press for an equalizer, as captain Ryan Edwards witnessed a shot wide of the post and Fletcher shot from close range shortly after.

Watt then had a clear view of goal but he was unable to hit a low shot from 16 yards out of goal.

Livi could have doubled the lead in the 69th minute when Nouble conceded Scott Pittman but Birighitti excellently neutralized the danger with his feet.

United headed back when substitute Mathew Cudjoe hit a great long shot but George went over the bar.

However, Livi saw the game take all three points.

Martingale tells Montano that he will score the goal

Livingston boss David Martindale:

“I said to Cristian at half-time, ‘you’ll win for us’ – and he went and won for us.

“Last season with Cristian, I didn’t get the player I thought I had. It took him a while to adapt to Scottish football, training and competition.

“It’s a different kind of football than League Two in England and I mean in the best way possible. So it took him a while to adapt but he came back this summer and he’s there. played at the top.

“I am really happy for Cristian because he has worked so hard.

“I think we deserved to win. The boys were excellent and we well deserved our win. We could have had a second and it was worth it. We defended our box. very good today.

“We could have played United at a good time. They came out after a big game in Europe and that really helped us. I’m not going to stand here and say otherwise.”

DUNDEE, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 07: Livingstons & # 39;  Christian Montano (L) scores to make it 1-0 in the Premier League match between Dundee United and Livingston at Tannadice Stadium, on 7 August 2022, in Dundee, Scotland.  (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)
Picture:
Montano gave Livingston the lead early in the second half

Ross: Europe is not an excuse to perform

Jack Ross, owner of Dundee United:

“I don’t like using it [Europe] as an excuse because that would take away Livingston’s form and bring us down.

“But I think if you talk to managers in the Premiership other than the two big boys who have done this, it’s hard.

“You don’t have real depth which means you can make a lot of changes but we should still have more intensity.

“They had an amazing high on Thursday in terms of what they put into it, physically and what they put into it emotionally.

“It’s not an excuse, but it’s not easy.”

What’s next?

Dundee United travel to the Netherlands for the second leg of their Europa Conference League third qualifying round tie against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday with a 1-0 lead; start at 8pm.

Next for Livingston is next Saturday’s home game against Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership; start at 3pm.

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