Marvin Bartley’s debut within the Livingston dugout resulted in a 2-1 defeat at house to Falkirk in a William Hill Premiership conflict on the Residence of the Set Fare Area.
The Lions’ former captain, assistant supervisor and first-team coach took over from David Martindale on Sunday, with the previous boss transferring upstairs to grow to be sporting director after overseeing a 24-game winless run.
First-half targets from Kyrell Wilson and Louie Marsh proved sufficient for Falkirk regardless of a spirited fightback from Livi within the second half – highlighted by Connor McLennan’s Forty seventh-minute purpose.
The win strengthens the Bairns’ top-six credentials, now sitting eight factors away from Aberdeen, whereas Livi stay six factors adrift.
Bartley would have been eager to get off to a optimistic begin – but it surely took simply six minutes for his or her defensive frailties to look as Daniel Finlayson was caught in possession simply outdoors his penalty space.
That allowed Marsh to play in Wilson who duly fired throughout purpose and past Jerome Prior for the opener.
Issues nearly went from dangerous to worse for the Lions within the tenth minute as Barney Stewart thundered a header house from Calvin Miller’s cross solely to be flagged offside.
The Bairns have been in whole management and Brad Spencer nearly produced a freak purpose straight from a nook with Prior taking evasive motion to claw the ball away – just for Marsh to show house the ensuing set-play on the again publish to double his aspect’s lead.
They seemed as if they may rating with each assault and solely a Miller slip when clear by means of value them a 3rd, whereas Wilson was inches away from a surprise purpose with a volley that flashed narrowly large within the ultimate moments of the primary half.
The hosts wanted an enormous response after the interval, and so they acquired simply that because the deficit was decreased two minutes into the half. A goalmouth scramble was half-cleared earlier than being despatched again into the field the place McLennan poked the ball past Scott Bain from shut vary.
Falkirk gamers remonstrated with the officers as Liam Henderson lay injured within the field, however a VAR test noticed the purpose stand.
That sparked a change in momentum however for all Livi loved a interval of attacking play, they have been unable to threaten a leveller with Falkirk creating the higher probabilities.
Ethan Ross despatched a curling effort narrowly large earlier than Miller rounded Prior, solely to hit the purpose body with the online at his mercy.
Stevie Might was launched for the injured McLennan and the veteran stung the palms of Bain with a strike from the sting of the field as the house aspect went looking for a leveller.
The closing levels have been frantic as Livi despatched males ahead whereas the Bairns seemed to benefit from the large open areas however neither aspect was capable of finding the online with Falkirk holding on for the three factors.
