Livingston kept their hopes of a Scottish Premiership top-six finish alive with a 2-0 victory over St Johnstone.

First-half goals from Joel Nouble and Steven Kelly, who scored a stunning free-kick, handed the West Lothian side only their second win in eight league matches.

The result leaves seventh-place Livingston one and two points adrift of Hibernian and St Mirren respectively ahead of the final pre-split fixture next weekend.

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Saints, who improved after the break, remain only four points clear of the relegation zone.

Livingston knew they needed a victory to keep their top six-bid alive after Hibs, who also have a vastly superior goal difference, opened up a four-point lead in sixth place with victory against Hearts in the lunchtime kick-off.

In front of a larger than normal crowd at the Tony Macaroni Arena following a ticket giveaway to local children, the Lions started well.

There were only three minutes on the clock when Steven Bradley got goal-side of the Saints rear-guard from a Morgan Boyes pass but his tame left-footed effort went wide of the post.

Nouble's attempted chip over Remi Matthews was then gathered by the visiting goalkeeper before Bradley's pass across goal, having got around Matthews, came to nothing.

Saints' first sight of goal came in the 11th minute when Jamie Murphy dug out a cross from the left but Connor McLennan's header was comfortably saved by Shamal George.

And it was Livingston who went ahead after 23 minutes through Nouble after Bruce Anderson did well to create space and feed his team-mate, with Nouble then keeping Drew Wright at arm's length before curling a shot beyond Matthews from 18 yards.

The offside flag denied Livingston a second just after the half-hour mark when Bradley tapped in Anderson's pass.

David Martindale's side, however, doubled their lead in the 38th minute with an exquisite free-kick from Kelly after Cammy MacPherson was penalised for fouling Anderson just outside the area.

Saints brought on Graham Carey at the break and the playmaker missed a great chance to halve the visitor's arrears just six minutes later after McLennan cut the ball back for the Irishman.

The second half was full of chances for both teams, with Cristian Montano and Anderson both guilty of failing to make the most of promising openings, while at the other end Melker Hallberg volleyed just off target from an Adam Montgomery cross.

The away team continued to press in a bid to salvage something from the game and with 10 minutes left Boyes cleared a Carey effort off the line.

What the managers said

Livingston manager David Martindale: "For me that is success for the football club. Most years we're the favourites for relegation and that's us broken the [club] record for staying in the Premiership.

"I think I can safely say that now, Livingston have never before in their history remained in the Premiership for a sixth season and this group of players and staff have managed to do that.

"Bar the first season, most years we're fighting for the top six."

St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson: "I can understand the fans' frustration because I'm probably even more annoyed watching that than they are.

"This is a tough league but I just expect my players to be better than they were today. Our results haven't been great in the last three or four games and we should be doing better.

"For me, basic mistakes have cost us in those matches but do they want to just sit and accept that or do they roll their sleeves up?

"I've told the players that it wasn't good enough. Again, the goals we're losing are poor. One was a wonder free-kick but we could have stopped it at source quite easily.

"You just clear your lines. It's a tricky pitch but we'd spoken to the players about that and, yes, it frustrates me."

What's next?

Livingston's next Scottish Premiership match is away to Dundee United on April 22, with St Johnstone at home to Hibernian on the same day.

Both games kick off at 3pm.

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