Jeremy Bokila started the Livingston fight backSNS

Jeremy Bokila started the Livingston fight back

At a glance

  • Dundee race into two-goal lead with strikes from Yan Dhanda and Cameron Congreave with wicked wind in their favour

  • Livingston enjoy the benefits of the horrific conditions in the second half to fight back with finishes from Jeremy Bokila and Tete Yengi

  • Home captain McGowan sent off in virtual last-act of the game with Dundee's Acquah bearing down on goal

Sportscene highlights: Livingston v Dundee

13/12/2025

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Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Home of the Set Fare Arena

Bottom-side Livingston roared back from two goals down to save a precious Scottish Premiership point against struggling Dundee in a momentum-swinging match.

With the swirling wind and battering rain against them in the first half, home goalkeeper Jerome Prior parried Ethan Hamilton's shot to his left-hand-side, but Dundee's Yan Dhanda was on hand to volley in a superb strike for his first league goal of the season.

Heads were left shaking, and they were in the hands of the home support five minutes later when wingers Tony Yogane and Cameron Congreave linked up, with the latter neatly cushioning in a second, which sent some fans for the exit before 20 minutes of play.

They perhaps should have stuck around for the second half though, as Livi were much improved with the elements working in their favour.

The powerful Jeremy Bokila shrugged off Dundee defender Billy Koumetio to crash in a well-deserved goal for the galvanised hosts.

Experienced forward Stevie May forced a save from distance, while Daniel Finlayson flicked a header wide with life breathed back into the basement side with an equaliser brewing.

With five minutes of regulation time remaining, substitute Tete Yengi steered a fairly harmless effort on target but visiting goalkeeper Jon McCracken made a mess of dealing with it and watched the ball run between his legs to spark scenes of relief among the home ranks.

If there was to be a winner, it looked certain to be for Livi, but Dundee's Emile Acquah was through on goal as set to shoot, but home captain Ryan McGowan hauled him down to deny him the chance of a last-gasp winner and took the red card instead.

The draw still leaves Livingston four points adrift of Dundee, who hop up to 10th, but within three points of Kilmarnock who visit Aberdeen on Sunday.

Analysis: Ultimate tale of two halves, but who will be happy?

If ever a game encapsulated the cliche a game of two-halves, this was it.

In treacherous conditions, Dundee could not have looked more comfortable at half-time. They barely allowed Livingston to leave their half and they looked destined to stretch seven points clear of their hosts who were booed off at the break.

But, as well as their turn in fortunes with the forecast, Livi showed such spirit to spark the second half into a contest.

They battered down the Dundee defence at a devastating rate and would have been wildly unfortunate to not at least pick up a point on such an important afternoon.

Martindale stressed pre-match it was a game his side "needed to win" and while they haven't done that, this will feel like a positive step.

Having now played the same number of games as languishing Killie, they are just three points off Stuart Kettlewell's side who will be well within their sights.

The magnitude of this game has perhaps been lost a little in the awful elements, but if there is to be a happier camp it ought to be Livingston who displayed the fight which will be rehired - once again - if they are to preserve their Premiership status.

What they said

Livingston manager David Martindale: "We should have won the game. The two goals we give away are embarrassing, really, really poor.

"We weren't under any danger at that point. I was thinking how did we find ourselves 2-0 down?

"When you watch the goals back, you understand. But I give the players a lot of credit.

"I don't think the first-half performance was terrible, apart from the defending for the goals.

"But there's a big reaction from the players. We do extremely well to get back into the game, the subs had a big impact."

Dundee boss Steven Pressley tells BBC Sportsound: "It was the proverbial game of two halves. We came out of the blocks very aggressively.

"We won a lot of second balls and used it well. Our two wide players caused them a lot of problems. We find ourselves 2-0 up and in a good position and playing with a great deal of confidence.

"At half-time we spoke about the importance of getting pressure to the ball because of the really difficult conditions. The wind was behind them in the second half and we went 4-4-2 at the start of the second half. We didn't manage to get the pressure we hoped and lost two really disappointing goals.

"When you come to a place like this in these conditions, you can't give away goals like we did. When we lost the first goal we were nervous, it's natural because of our league position, and we didn't manage to get to grips with the second half.

"Credit to Livingston, they put us under pressure but we have to be better for the goals."

What's next?

Livingston travel to the SMISA Stadium next Saturday, 20 December (15:00 GMT) to take on Premier Sports Cup finalists St Mirren.

Dundee are on the road at the same time as they face in-form Motherwell at Fir Park.

Player of the match

S. May
7.29
17 S. May
7.29
39 T. Yengi
7.17
25 M. Tait
6.88
28 J. Prior
6.64
19 D. Finlayson
6.43
27 D. Wilson
6.00
5 R. McGowan
6.00
11 C. McLennan
6.00
9 R. Muirhead
6.00
8 S. Pittman
5.33
26 C. Montaño
5.25
18 J. Bokila
5.25
30 J. Brenet
4.63
15 L. Smith
4.57
7 Mahamadou Susoho
4.44
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