Fernandez on a star turn as Lions roar late

LIVINGSTON 2 DUNDEE UNITED 0 It's a good indicator the action on the pitch isn't up to much when attention wanders to the touchline. Yesterday's world exclusive first encounter between Livingston and Dundee United wasn't too bad; it's just the action around the dugout was, in the first half, more interesting.

Everything has changed for Livingston in the last year, but one constant is the entertaining double act of manager Jim Leishman and Head Coach Davie Hay. It starts with some mild gesticulations from Hay, while Leishman lingers in the background, exuding calm.

But that never lasts.

Yesterday it took some questionable decisions by referee Tom Brown to rile Leishman. Once animated, there was no stopping him - not even regular lectures from the fourth official. Leishman's ire centred on a couple of decisions against tremendously skilful forward, Davide Fernandez, with the Spaniard penalised for reversing into opponents. That's a polite way of saying he likes to use his bum - a la Kenny Dalglish - to fend off defenders.

It led to an amusing scene, with Leishman re-enacting the manoeuvre on the fourth official while gesturing wildly in the direction of the pitch. "There were a couple of things I asked about," Leishman explained later. "I'm never rude," he added. "I just wanted the rule explained."

At least it gave us something to talk about during the first half. Strikers Jim Hamilton and Derek Lilley buzzed about menacingly for the visitors, but the chances tended to be long-range efforts. On 12 minutes, Danny Griffin hit a cracker from 30 yards. Six minutes later, Barry Wilson had a similar effort tipped over by Paul Gallacher at the other end.

But through the first half it was Fernandez who shone for the home side. It's interesting to contrast his form with that of team-mate David Bingham, a star performer in the First Division last season and virtually anonymous yesterday. At least Fernandez, who this time last year was turning out for Airdrie, seems to be a ready replacement as fans' favourite.

He has a wonderful turn and a Moravcik-esque touch. Let down sometimes by his delivery, this was not the case 12 minutes into the second half yesterday, when he supplied the corner that led to the opening goal.

Stuart Lovell picked it up, firing a header that Gallacher struggled to hold before Nathan Lowndes pounced to sneak the ball over the line.

There was reason to celebrate: this was the West Lothian side's first goal in over 430 minutes, and Lowndes became their joint top scorer for the season - with one. Each attack, invariably involving Fernandez, now looked infinitely more purposeful. The visitors, on the other hand, seemed bereft of ideas.

That had much to do with a subdued Charlie Miller. On 63 minutes he sent one trademark, perfectly weighted pass for Hamilton to chase, but minutes later he was substituted and looked none too happy as he slumped into the dugout.

And for most of the second half Jim Leishman did nothing to draw attention from the pitch; either that or the action had become more enthralling. He did appear again in the dying minutes, earning a rebuke from the referee - presumably for one exaggerated gesticulation too many. But then, before we knew it, there was Fernandez again with a sublime piece of skill that should have wrapped it up.

Minutes later, the Lions did just that. Stuart Lovell popped up to volley home from twenty yards through a crowded box. That puts Lovell joint top of the scoring charts, too.

At the end, the home side found themselves provisionally in third place in the SPL. More significantly, this was an assured performance by a team who must be finding life far more comfortable now.

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