FORMER Hutchison Vale and Leith Athletic striker Leigh Griffiths struck his second goal in consecutive games to give Livingston a vital victory over Queen of the South.
The win sent the Lions five points clear of their First Division relegation rivals Clyde and Morton and they could all but secure their survival with victory over the Bully Wee at Almondvale on Saturday.
"To get back-to-back wins at this stage is
massive for us and it takes the pressure off a little bit for our game on Saturday," said Livvy boss Mark Proctor.
"We rode our luck a little bit and it wasn't pretty to watch but the boys put in a good shift in difficult conditions."
If the Almondvale outfit had hopes of facing a team with one eye on their upcoming Scottish Cup semi-final, they were soon shaken out of it as Gordon Chisholm's side created the better chances. And, but for Lions keeper Colin Stewart, the Doonhamers could have wrapped things up before Griffiths struck in the 85th minute.
And Proctor conceded: "Colin Stewart made two tremendous saves at critical times in the match."
Stephen Dobbie looked certain to score in the first half when Stewart parried a shot but Dave Mackay cleared the goal-bound shot, then, following the interval, Stewart saved another fierce strike from Dobbie.
The winner, when it came, was engulfed in controversy as Griffiths scored with the Queen defenders claiming for offside against Robert Snodgrass.
Referee Euan Norris gave the goal after consulting his assistant. Chisholm was then sent to the stand for protesting and Paul Burns was sent off in the 90th minute. Chisholm said: "The linesman had his flag up when they scored and then changed his mind. It was a bad way to lose."
The full article contains 305 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
