Livi ease out United

Stuart Lovell sends the ball into the net off the crossbar and keeper

Dundee United 0-1 Livingston

A freak own goal from goalkeeper Paul Gallacher helped dump Dundee United out of the CIS Insurance Cup at Tannadice.

A poor United display that led boss Ian McCall to storm out of the ground without attending the post-match media conference was capped when Livingston captain Stuart Lovell struck the crossbar in the 19th minute before hitting the goalkeeper's back and bouncing over the line.

But it was a deserved win for Livi, who comfortably maintained their record of never beating beaten at Tannadice in front of a sparse crowd of less than 3000.

United were again without injured Charlie Miller, but fellow midfielder Derek McInnes was mysteriously absent from the starting line-up, with youngster Mark Kerr recalled in his place.

Livingston named former United man Derek Lilley in attack alongside on-loan Spaniard David Fernandez.

Play in the opening stages of the game seemed to mirror the apathy of the crowd, with neither side in the ascendancy.

Livingston did have one early chance, however, when Lee Makel tested Gallacher's reflexes with a rasping 25-yard shot that the goalkeeper knocked over the crossbar.

But the visitors took the lead in the 19th minute in the first quality attack of the first-half.

David McNamee raced down the right wing, using his pace to beat Alan Archibald, and fired the ball through the penalty area for Lovell, whose shot struck the crossbar before finding its way into the net off Gallacher.

The home side failed to respond until after the break, with defender Chris Innes smacking the woodwork with a header from an Andy McLaren corner.

Pressure from substitute Owen Coyle forced Livingston goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie into fumbling, but Emmanuel Dorado cleared the danger.

Livingston should have doubled their lead in the 71st minute, when Lilley got in ahead of his marker but was unable to steer his effort on target.

United were unlucky not to have made better of an opportunity created by McLaren.

His wicked cross caught McKenzie by surprise and the goalkeeper's punch fell to Craig Easton, only for the midfielder to let the ball bounce off his shins despite having the goal at his mercy.

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Dundee Utd: Gallacher, Innes, Archibald, McCracken, Wilson (Samuel 70), Easton, Dodds (Coyle 61), Kerr, James Paterson (Robson 49), McIntyre, McLaren.
Subs Not Used: Jarvie, Griffin.

Livingston: McKenzie, Rubio, Andrews, Dorado, McNamee, Kerr, Makel (Quino 89), Lovell, McAllister (O'Brien 45), Fernandez, Lilley.
Subs Not Used: Montgomery, McGovern, Camacho.

Goal: Gallacher 19 og.

Attendance: 2,899

Referee: Willie Young

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