Kilmarnock vs Livingston; Scottish Premiership
Kilmarnock vs Livingston. Scottish Premiership.
The BBSP Stadium, Rugby ParkAttendance5,703.
Kilmarnock 2
- J Hugill (25th minute)
- F Curtis (77th minute)
Livingston 0
- B Kabongolo (sent off 84th minute)
Kilmarnock 2-0 Livingston: Gap grows at the bottom as Livingston lose at relegation rivals
Report as things are starting to look bleak for Livingston; The bottom two met at Rugby Park, with goals from Joe Hugill and Findlay Curtis extending Livi’s winless league run to 29 games.
Saturday 21 March 2026 19:47, UK
Livingston’s hopes of survival were dealt a hammer blow as they slipped 12 points adrift at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership with just seven games remaining following a 2-0 defeat at Kilmarnock.
The bottom two met at Rugby Park, with goals from Joe Hugill and Findlay Curtis extending Livi's winless league run to 29 games.
The away side's miserable afternoon was compounded by a late red card to defender Brooklyn Kabongolo for denying a goalscoring opportunity as Curtis raced through.
A minute's applause was held prior to kick-off following the death of former Kilmarnock manager Jim Fleeting.
Livingston needed a fast start but almost found themselves behind in the opening moments as Hugill poked an effort narrowly wide having initially fluffed his attempted volley.
- Teams | Stats
- Got Sky? Watch now on the Sky Sports app 📱
- Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contract 📺
- Scottish Premiership table | Watch Premiership highlights for free
The visitors' first attempt arrived in the ninth minute when Kabongolo headed harmlessly over the crossbar, but that was a momentary break from the home side's dominance.
Killie kept banging on the door, with Liam Polworth's blocked effort from the edge of the box followed shortly afterwards by Hugill flashing a header wide as Neil McCann's side looked to open the scoring.
The January arrival was more clinical in front of goal from his next attempt as he turned home a wonderful Marley Watkins cross after 25 minutes to give his side the lead.
Now firmly on the front foot, Killie went close to extending their advantage just five minutes later when Curtis, fresh off a maiden senior Scotland call-up, was thwarted by a fine save from Jerome Prior.
The break did little to change the momentum of the game as a dithering Danny Wilson was caught in possession just outside his own box. The veteran defender did at least rescue the situation by thwarting Polworth before he could get a shot off.
That missed chance appeared to galvanise the travelling Lions who enjoyed much more of the play.
Kabongolo should have done better with a gilt-edged header which went harmlessly wide, but despite huffing and puffing for a way back into the contest, Kelle Roos remained largely a spectator.
With gaps opening at the back as Livi pushed forward, Killie passed up chances to extend their lead with Dominic Thompson fizzing a shot narrowly wide and David Watson unable to control a ball over the top when well-placed to slot beyond Prior.
Marvin Bartley threw caution to the wind with a series of attacking substitutions and they almost paid dividends as Lewis Smith rattled the woodwork form the edge of the box.
Killie swiftly went up the field and put the game to bed as Curtis was rewarded for a fine showing by scoring at the far post after being teed up by Hugill.
Livi's dismay was added to when Kabongolo saw red late on for dragging down Curtis to all but rubber-stamp their return to the Championship.
