Livingston 4 - 1 St Mirren: Livi hand out lesson to leaders

Ryan Hardie had already struck once, and his second made it 2-1 to Livingston after just 15 minutes. Photograph: Ross Parker/SNS

It's been a funny old week for St Mirren. Perhaps it contributed to this game featuring one of the most crazy opening 25 minutes anyone at the Tony Macaroni Arena yesterday is likely to witness all season. If retaining the services of Jack Ross as manager after an approach from Barnsley was perhaps the Buddies biggest result of the campaign, this bumpy ride at the hands of an immaculately organised Livingston side was a reminder that in the words of Ross himself '˜there is still work to do' at the Paisley club.

This defeat is hardly likely to blow them off course from capturing the title, but it will have sent a surge of belief through the Livingston ranks that they can be the best of the rest and gain a crucial advantage in terms of play-off places shakedown.

A thunderous burst of three quick first half goals after they had gone into arrears in just 120 seconds left David Hopkins’ side in a commanding position with the icing on the cake applied by a fourth with virtually the last kick of the ball.