TWO unanswered second half goals from Bruce Anderson enhanced Livingston’s objective of staving off relegation and deepened Dundee’s woes

The former Aberdeen man netted within a minute of the restart before adding another ten minutes later as the Dark Blues were caught napping.

In the end it was a comfortable night’s work for the Lions against a Dundee team who remain second bottom of the table, having lost six Premiership games on the spin.

Livingston showed plenty of endeavour and energy, attributes that the visitors were sorely lacking.

The team looked the more likely to break the deadlock in the first period and Davie Martindale’s side carried that into the second.

By comparison, the visitors produced a toothless display and lacked penetration and ideas in the final third, with Livingston goalkeeper Max Stryjek only being tested by a Paul McMullan drive he pushed behind for a corner

The hosts are now seven points clear of Dundee, who themselves are five adrift of safety in the relegation play-off place

Dundee boss James McPake has already admitted he is keen to tie down Leigh Griffiths on a permanent deal but the striker could only manage a place on the bench for the trip to West Lothian.

He was seated beside Jason Cummings - the subject of interest from Aussie side Central Coast Mariners - as the marksman earned a recall for the first time since a high profile disciplinary breach last month.

Martindale resisted the temptation to hand his January newcomers immediate full debuts - with Caleb Chukwuemeka and Morgan Boyes also having to be content with a place among the subs.

But visiting boss McPake was forced to turn to his bench after just six minutes after Jordan Marshall was forced off with a hamstring injury, Christie Elliott his replacement.

It was the Dark Blues who created the first meaningful chance just two minutes later.

McMullan dropped the shoulder to evade James Penrice from a Paul McGowan pass but his drive from inside the area was beaten away by Stryjek at the goalkeeper’s near post.

The tone was set for a half full of energy. 

Livingston midfielder Scott Pittman headed a Nicky Devlin cross well off target before Anderson had an even better chance.

The diminutive striker only had Adam Legzdins to beat after latching on to a Devlin pass but the goalkeeper pushed away Anderson’s attempted chip.

Livingston were the aggressors as they continued to push for the opener. Andrew Shinnie had a free kick blocked by the wall before Anderson was denied again.

Another Devlin delivery fell to the feet of the forward but his left-footed drive was blocked on the line by Jordan McGhee.

Dundee had a chance to test Stryjek just moments before the break but Luke McCowan fired a poor left-footed free kick over the wall and bar from 25 yards.

Livingston came flying out of the traps at the start of the second as they hit the woodwork and then scored within the first minute of the restart.

Anderson was involved on both occasions. There were barely 10 seconds on the clock when the forward forced his way into the box before letting off a left-footed drive.

Legzdins stuck out an instinctive arm and got enough of the ball to lift it on to the top of the bar.

From Odin Bailey’s corner, James Penrice found Anderson and the striker fired a low drive through the legs of the Dundee shot-stopper from a tight angle.

Dundee could have levelled five minutes later when McGowan pounced on a slack pass back by Ayo Obileye but goalkeeper Stryjek dived on the ball as the midfielder tried to round him.

It got better for the hosts in the 56th minute when Anderson doubled his side’s lead from another corner.

After Obileye had a shot saved by Legzdins at his near post, Anderson reacted the quickest and swept a low left-footed drive into the net from six yards out.

Livingston comfortably saw the game out and even brought on Chukwuemeka to make his debut after arriving on loan from Aston Villa last week.