Monday January 19th 2026
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Ewan Hornell
Livingston and St Mirren will be seeing plenty of each other as they face back to back fixtures. The first of the meetings came in Scottish Cup action, providing both much needed relief from torrid league campaigns.
In their last outing, Livingston could not escape VAR frustration that has plagued them all season, drawing 1-1 with relegation rivals Kilmarnock. For the Paisley side their boss, Stephen Robinson had some choice words for his players after their 2-0 midweek defeat to Hearts.
St Mirren were hoping to carry the momentum from their League Cup Final win into a Scottish Cup run, while a victory for Livingston would have ended their nearly five-month wait for a win.
St Mirren flew out the traps as within 30 seconds they found themselves in behind the Livingston backline. Roland Idowu’s cutback found the oncoming Killian Phillips who’s effort was blocked from. An early warning for Martindale’s side.
Even that early scare couldn’t spring Livingston into life. As in the 3rd minute a Killian Phillips ball cut the Livingston defence open. Jayden Richardson slid his cross across the face of the goal leaving an easy tap in which Roland Idowu gladly accepted to put the away side 1-0 ahead.
Despite their stumbling start Livingston were quick to respond. It was some slick Livingston passing around the box and a cute backheel flick from Robbie Muirhead which presented Scott Arfield with an simple chance a handful of yards from goal. In his first start for his new club, Arfield made no mistake and brought the tie back level.
Neither team could settle as the rest of the first half was a cagey affair as both struggled to gain any attacking momentum.
St Mirren constantly sought out Jayden Richardson as their creative spark as he took up his position high and wide on the right hand side of the pitch. In the 36th minute he sent in a looping cross which found Oisin Smyth who will feel he should have done better as his right footed volley crashed well wide.
1-1 at the break with all still to play for in the Scottish Cup tie.
The first chance of note in the second half came from Livingston. Lewis Smith turned back onto his left foot and whipped in an inviting cross. It found Robbie Muirhead who’s strained header safely found the gloves of the Buddies goalkeeper, Shamal George.
It took until the 71st minute for St Mirren’s first chance of the second half to come. A low cross came deep from the left hand side and made its way through to the back post to Jayden Richardson. Despite being positioned on the byline he manged to flash a half-shot half-cross at goal which was unlucky not to clip the post on its way behind for a goal kick.
Neither side could find that elusive goal they longed for as it ended 1-1 in regular time.
So, what would extra time have to offer?
Well, off the pitch a fantastic shout from a young Livingston supporter of, ‘I want to go home,’ was a definite highlight.
On the pitch, there was little to show from both sides and no goals meant a place in the fifth round would be decided by penalties.
It was St Mirren who came away the victors on penalties, 4-3 after substitute, Malik Dijksteel scored the decisive penalty and earned his team in place in the next round.
Livingston Manager, David Martindale spoke most match,
“I thought the goal we score is incredible, it seems to be right now we’ve got to score unbelievable goals, but the goals we give away are so bad.”
When asked if they are getting closer to finally getting a win Martindale said,
“I think we are. I’m not sitting here negative but at what point does that change from my perspective.
“I just feel we had a lot of good entries into the final third and we just lacked that wee bit of cutting edge, that wee bit of clinical, wee bit of composure. I think we had enough controlled entries to win the game, if I’m really honest.”
After his strong words midweek Stephen Robinson praised his teams reaction,
“The players done all the talking, they done it all. You know sometimes you have to be seen to come out, you can’t say everything is great every single time.
“They reacted today, they didn’t let their head go down when it went one all, and they showed great character to get through.”
These two will rematch on Tuesday night in what will make for a crucial matchup as both sides try to beat the drop.
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