Livingston 1
Dundee 1
League (First Division)

Match Report

Mickeal Antoine-Curier scored from the penalty spot to equalise for Dundee at Livingston but was dismayed (pictured) after his second half effort which also found the net was disallowed. The Dark Blues put in plenty of effort but again lacked inspiration and they fell behind in the 26th minutes when Robert Snodgrass found plenty of space to net with a header.

The Dark Blues drew level a minute before the end of the first period when former Livi man Colin McMenamin was felled in the box by home captain James McPake, referee Scott MacDonald pointing to the spot and Antoine-Curier slotted home the spot kick.

Two new Dundee signings started at Almondvale, David Cowan in at right back and Mickael Antoine-Curier partnering former Livi striker Colin McMenamin up front.

David O'Brien returned to the starting line up for first time since September 1st and Ludo Roy also returning to first team action for first time since August.

Dundee were in all white as the match kicked off and had an early chance, Gary Mackenzie almost giving them the lead, O'Brien's corner headed down by the big center half but his effort hits the base of the keeper's right hand post. Livingston manage to clear the loose ball from the goal mouth.

Livingston took the lead in the 26th minute via a corner from right taken by James, headed home by the unmarked Robert Snodgrass.

Seven minutes later Liam Fox almost puts Livi two ahead, after cutting inside from right his low drive went just past the post.

Milan Palenik was booked in the 33rd minute and it would come back to haunt the big Czech later on.

Scott Robertson broke down the right and tried to find Kevin McDonald with a cross but it was cut out by McPake.

Antoine-Curier came close in the 43rd minute getting on the end of Eddie Malone's deep cross but his effort was marginally too high.

The Frenchman was on the score-sheet just a minute later, McMenamin was brought down by McPake as he turned in the box and new boy Antoine-Curier is first to grab the ball for spot kick. The Frenchman's placed his penalty high and into the right side of the goal to level the scores.

Dundee pressed until the interval but couldn't add a second.

There were no changes at half time but Antoine-Curier was booked for a foul in the opening minutes of the second period, the early stages were uneventful and Dundee replaced McHale with Daquin in 58 minutes.

In the 66th minute Livingston almost retook the lead Dorrans leading a break out of midfield and a great cross field ball was headed wide by former Dee Steven Craig at full stretch.

Two minutes later Antoine-Curier had the ball in the net again but this time the linesman ruled it out. An O'Brien free kick from the left pinballed around the box and eventually found it's way to Colin McMenamin who got in a shot on the turn, keeper Stewart parried it to Antoine-Curier and the big Frenchman headed home, but he was ruled offside. With twenty minutes to go O'Brien was replaced by Bob Davidson who lined up in the left of a front three, but it was at the other end that the next chance came - Snodgrass coming close after intercepting a Cowan pass out of defence, but his shot was from distance and went high and wide.

With seven minutes to go two great saves from Ludo Roy keep the score at 1-1. Livingston sub Griffiths being denied when he breaks away in the box and hits a shot low which Roy pushed away.

Then Ludo came to the rescue again when the ball fell to Snodgrass from the resulting corner and his powerful drive is pushed wide by Ludo.

And the home side came close again sooner afterwards Griffiths' cross being headed just over by Craig.

Dundee were reduced to ten men with four minutes of the ninety left Milan Palenik the man who goes off for a second booking. A late challenge on Craig in the midfield sees him shown yellow and then red cards.

Despite the home side being a man to the good it's Dundee who press in the closing minutes,a and they come close, when Davidson's cross being headed away at full stretch with Robertson waiting to pounce, but the final whistle went with the scores level and a fair reflection of play on a day when Dundee failed to fire on all cylinders.

Match report written by Dundee Matchday Programme