Archives | Livingston 2 Dunfermline 0

William Hill Championship
Matchday #3
Saturday 22nd August 2026
Home of the Set Fare Arena

Goals in the last minute of each half cost Dunfermline a defeat that left them on just two points in eighth place.

On matchday three of the William Hill Championship Dunfermline made the short trip to Livingston in search of their first win there since 2008. That was nine visits back and everyone of a black and white persuasion hoped that the Pars could take the three points and record their first league win of the season.

Clearly unhappy with the home defeat to Ross County last time out Neil Lennon made six changes and started with a back four. In came Dylan Lobban, Nurudeen Abdulai, Sam Cleall-Harding, Allan Oyirwoth, Keith Bray and Callumn Morrison. That meant on to the bench went Charlie Gilmour, Shea Kearney, Aaron Donnelly, Luke Robinson and Chris Kane while there was no place for John Tod.

Livingston were seeking to put behind them their first defeat in seven competitive matches this season - losing 2-0 at home to Partick Thistle a fortnight ago. Manager Glenn Whelan also made six changes dropping Babacar Fati, Mitchell Robertson, Cammy MacPherson, Cameron Palmer, Tyrese Sinclair and Graham Carey to bring in Besir Iseni, Bruce Anderson, Bradly van Hoeven, Liam Polworth and his most recent signing Adam Montgomery.

The visitors kicked off and immediately showed great determination to take the game to Livingston. Within a minute Robbie Fraser pinged a shot over the host` crossbar. There was a counter from the Livi captain Robbie Muirhead heading his side`s early chance wide left. Thereafter Dunfermline dominated the first half. Oyirwoth was at the heart of everything. A fifth minute free kick taken by Aston Oxborough was flicked on by the young Ugandan to Morrison and Brooklyn Kabongolo was happy to turn the dangerous cross behind for a corner. That was taken short to Lobban but Fraser`s cross was too strong.

An 8th minute attempt by A Tod from distance was too easy a hold for Livi keeper Jerome Prior. Next a Fraser cross field pass to Morrison was returned for Oyirwoth in front of goal but he sent his shot wide right. Right away Tod was able to be forward to fire a tricky on target shot from the left that Prior could not hold. Morrison gathered and fizzed the ball across the goalmouth with no takers.

Besir Iseni who had already seen yellow downed on Bray to give the Pars another free kick 30 yards out but Lobban`s delivery was never going to be a threat. The Fifers continued to make life difficult for Livi. Tod`s 19th minute shot was saved by Prior and Oyirwoth`s follow up was blocked by Scott Pittman. That led to an opportunity for Alfons Amade that the keeper did incredibly well to tip on to his bar and behind. Tod was high with the next attempt and Livingston probably thought that they had calmed the storm for a short period but there was more to come.

Lobban burst forward, fed Morrison and Amade blasted the cross over the bar. Oli Shaw was close to converting a Morrison cross and Bray had his shot blocked. Cleall-Harding pushed forward picking out Morrison who kept up his continuous supply but Shaw got the ball caught up in his feet. Play stuck around the Livi penalty box but as half time approached Dunfermline had failed to take any of their good chances and had not tested the Lions` French keeper nearly enough. In contrast Livingston`s 45th minute goal showed how to grab the chance. It certainly was a rare chance possibly their first on-target but it secured a lead at the break. The ball came over from the left and Pittman played it back for Bradly van HOEVEN to send a left footed shot curling in past Oxborough. 1-0

Morrison and Lobban had terrorised the Livi left, Tod and Fraser had created on the left, Oyirwoth had worked well and Dunfermline deserved to be ahead but the reality was the entire opposite.

Half Time: Livingston 1 Dunfermline 0

There were no changes made by either side for the second half. Morrison forced a 49th minute corner and when Lobban took it short to him he returned it for the Aberdeen loanee to launch far into the Livi box. Abdulai headed back and Oyirwoth released a shot that required a special save from Prior. Tod was next to earn a corner and this time Bray was on the end of Morrison`s delivery but the defence blotted out the shot.

The Pars survived 59th minute Livi appeals for a penalty after Anderson went down six yards out but van Houven fired on target causing Oxborough to pull off a fine save from the former Sparta Rotterdam forward. Abdulai headed off the line and Anderson sent a very good chance wide left.

In an attempt to change things Neil Lennon made his first substitution in 65 minutes Josh Cooper replacing Andrew Tod. Within five minutes Cooper tested Prior at his near post and further substitutions were made adding fire power in an effort to rescue a point. Zak Rudden, Chris Kane, Olamilekan Adams and Charlie Gilmour were thrown on. Adams and Gilmour tried shots both of which failed to breach the defence and despite displaying a great touch to create an 85th minute chance for himself, Lobban produced a decent shot that again Prior dealt with.

Dunfermline were trying their hardest to find an equaliser but that left them vulnerable at the back. Muirhead took charge of free kick 30 yards out and his strike came rattling back off the crossbar. Sub Tyrese Sinclair looked to have a simple task to head the rebound into the net but contrived to direct the ball wide of the left upright. The newly relegated club managed to double their goal tally in 90th minute. Stevie May crossed from the left deep into the penalty box for MUIRHEAD to drill the ball low into the bottom left. 2-0

It had been a game where Dunfermline had impressed without being nearly clinically enough in front of goal. Two points from the first three league matches, two points and only one goal. The inability to put the ball in the net is what is killing the team right now.

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