Livingston 1-4 Kilmarnock: Joe Hugill scores twice as Neil McCann's side run riot against relegated Livi
Report and free match highlights from the William Hill Premiership match between Livingston and Kilmarnock at The Home of the Set Fare Arena; Joe Hugill scores twice and Nicky Clescenco and Findlay Curtis on target in crushing win
Sunday 17 May 2026 20:30, UK
Kilmarnock finished their late-season scoring streak in style with a 4-1 victory at relegated Livingston.
After netting three goals in each of their last three William Hill Premiership matches, Neil McCann's men eased to success in West Lothian.
While Livingston, with two wins all season, went down with a whimper, Killie rounded off the campaign with four victories in a row - a feat the club had not achieved since the heady days of the Steve Clarke era in 2018.
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Killie responded emphatically after Stevie May's third goal of the season had put the hosts, with interim Scott Arfield in charge, ahead on 20 minutes.
Fresh from the double strike that confirmed Premiership status against Dundee in midweek, Joe Hugill equalised, with the visitors then taking a 2-1 lead in at half-time thanks to Nicky Clescenco's first goal for the club.
A fourth goal in three games from Findlay Curtis and another from Hugill completed the rout after the interval.
Kilmarnock went direct to fashion the first major chance on 14 minutes. Goalkeeper Max Stryjek's long kick to the right found Michael Schjonning-Larsen, who chopped inside Barrie McKay to create plenty of shooting scope but his top-corner aim was inches too high.
The finishing at the other end was lethal soon after as Livingston seized the lead. Tom Lowery was robbed deep in his own territory by Robbie Muirhead and he laid off to winger McKay, who laced a pass through for May to drill a deadly low shot into the bottom corner.
Kilmarnock wasted little time hitting back, with Dominic Thompson's terrific near-post delivery from the left met by on-form Hugill.
The striker did not get the cleanest touch from six yards, but it was enough to wrong-foot and beat Jerome Prior.
Eleven minutes before the break, Livi were easily carved open once again.
Emmanuel Danso was swiftly punished for dwelling on the ball by Greg Kiltie, who teed up Clescenco. The winger was not closed down and allowed to drift inside to pick his spot, curling a right-footed effort beyond Prior's reach.
The third Killie goal was spawned from a stunning piece of Clescenco skill. The Moldova international's dragback and turn opened up the defence down the left and Thompson delivered for Rangers loan star Curtis to sweep in off Brooklyn Kabongolo on 53 minutes.
A trio of substitutions failed to make the hosts any more durable.
They were beaten by a simple ball from Robbie Deas up the middle to Hugill, who wriggled free to go one on one against Prior and tuck in a confident finish.
The scoring was done before the hour but only thanks to superb, almost identical stops by Stryjek to deny May and then substitute Sam Culbert late on.
Kilmarnock finished comfortably in 10th place, denied ninth spot by a late Dundee winner at home to Aberdeen.
Arfield: Livi need an experienced manager next
Livingston interim manager Scott Arfield:
"In terms of managerial appointments, this club needs a leader that's been through it.
"The Championship is a hard division. And they need a manager that's probably done it before, probably won it, and wants to do it again.
"As we speak, I'm still desperate to play again."
McCann thanks board after Kilmarnock finish season in style
Kilmarnock head coach Neil McCann:
"People said it was a dead-rubber game but we went aggressive to go and get ninth.
"I said to them at half-time to respect the opposition and go and get more goals and play in the manner we demand.
"I thought we were absolutely exceptional at times.
"We've built a nice platform now. We don't celebrate 10th but celebrate where we've come from and where we got to.
"I was fortunate to get a club like Kilmarnock where board that are so supportive, helped us in January and let me get on with my work.
"Hopefully they feel a bit of pride with their rewards for digging into their pockets - and going beyond the budget to help the group.
"Steve Clarke's record of four wins in a row (in 2018) is a good one because he was exceptional at this club.
"He was one of the people whose counsel I sought about what I was walking into."
