Livingston (A)  Bells League Championship - Saturday November 27th 1999  Match report by Roving Ross Lafferty Final Score   Livingston 1     Saints     2 Beforehand, I’ll just make an apology to those of you who are becoming tired of my constant references to before the season got underway. You see, I can’t help but repeat myself once again. This time though, the doubts weren’t from neutrals or supporters of the nine other sides in division one, no, they were from Saints fans themselves. And what were the doubts about? Why, none other than Monsieur Ludovic Roy himself. Ever since the departure of Alan Combe 18 months ago concern has been displayed over the ability of both Roy and his deputy Derek Scrimgour. Surely now though the ever decreasing amount of pessimists amongst the black and white army will realise they have on their hands one of the best, and youngest, No.1’s in Scotland. Up until this game it would have been fair to say that the Frenchman hadn’t really been tested in the heat of battle. Despite the fact that the game was his 37th appearance it’s hard to recall a game in which he was put under quite as much pressure as he was by Livingston. Yet, if I had been able to read this at half time on Saturday it would have seemed hard to believe following a first half in which the home side had failed to not only trouble their opponents goal but to get in their half of the field at all. The early onslaught which Tom Hendrie had prepared his side for failed to materialise and with the first effort of any note Saints took the lead in the 12th minute. Ian Ross’ throw in sucked Paddy Kelly out of position and Steven McGarry used the space to rattle in a first time shot from 18 yards in off an upright. Not long after, Barry Lavety should have doubled the score when he shrugged off a challenge on the edge of the box but with only Neil Alexander to beat in the Livvy goal he snatched at his shot and it bobbled wide. The two halves were as different as you will get in a game anywhere and with the strong wind behind them Livvy came out all guns blazing after the break. Possibly their best chance of the entire game fell to Charlie King soon after the restart but after riding the challenge of Turner his shot from 8 yards was blocked well by Roy. In the 53rd minute, skipper Graham Coughlin was the next to try his luck with a powerful long range drive which was tipped wide for a corner. Five minutes later it was substitute Gary Bowman, a half time replacement for Ian Ross, who came to the rescue when he cleared David Bingham’s header off the line. It seemed only a matter of time before the equaliser would come but in the 75th minute against the run of play Saints won a corner on the right. Bowman’s delivery found Barry McLaughlin who rose above ‘keeper Alexander to powerfully head home from close range. The home crowd were starting to pour out of the ground when three minutes later they at long last found the back of the net. Paul Deas broke into the box from the left wing and his low driven cross was turned past Roy by Tommy Turner. Although the stadium announcer credited it to Deas, it seems certain that Turner will claim it to take him to a half-century of league goals. Livingston were once again making all the moves and in the last minute of injury time, again from a corner, they came close to scoring when Graham Coughlin’s header was parried over the bar by Roy. His delight was clear for all to see and how he lapped up the crowd’s cheers at the end of Saints 7th consecutive win and one which also leaves them with more goals in 16 games  than in the entire 36 of last season. Livingston:Alexander, Kelly, Deas, McManus, Coughlan, Millar (Sweeney 80), King, McPhee (McLaren 63), Britton (McCormick 30), Bingham, Fleming St.Mirren: Roy, Nicolson, Ross (Bowman 46), Turner, McLaughlin, Walker, Baltacha, Brown, Lavety (Rudden), McGarry, Yardley  Sub Not Used: Robinson Sizzling Saint: The chants of “Ludo” from the huge travelling support come the end of the game made it clear who they saw as the star man. I’m pleased to say that there’s no doubt in my mind either that Ludovic Roy had perhaps his best 90 minutes yet in a Saints shirt. Not only did he make a number of top class stops, all coming at important times, during the game but his handling and distribution were also faultless throughout.