Soccer

Livingston’s extra-time win means Ross County’s grim Scottish Cup run continues

The Staggies have not won in the competition since 2019.

Livingston�s Andrew Shinnie
Livingston�s Andrew Shinnie (Michael Huff/PA)

Andrew Shinnie scored a late winner as Livingston stunned Ross County to knock them out of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup.

His 119th-minute winner saw the Championship outfit cause the first big shock of the fourth round.

It is now six years since County won a game in the competition, with their last success a 2-1 win over Motherwell in January 2019.

The Staggies made one change to the team that lost 4-1 to Celtic in the Premiership, with striker Jordan White replacing Connor Randall – who was on the bench alongside new signings Zac Ashworth and Jonathan Tomkinson.

The Staggies took on a Livingston outfit who were relegated from the Premiership last season but are looking to get back into the top flight at the first time of asking. They are third place in the Championship, four points behind leaders Falkirk.

The hosts started brightly with James Brown almost finding the net with a cross-cum-shot in the 12th minute when his effort from the right wing was goalbound, forcing goalkeeper Jerome Prior to tip the ball over the bar.

Livingston responded well and came close to taking the lead minutes later. Stevie May was allowed to fire a shot unchallenged from the edge of the box, forcing Jordan Amissah to tip the ball around the post for a corner.

Livingston continued to press for the opener and came close on the half hour mark when May was unchallenged to nod a Scott Muirhead throw-in to the box towards goal which had to be parried away by Amissah.

The visitors went in front on the stroke of half time in bizarre circumstances when they were awarded a penalty. Defender Akil Wright inexplicably raised his hand in the air to palm Scott McAlear’s free-kick into the box away, leaving referee Chris Graham no option but to point to the spot.

Robbie Muirhead made no mistake from 12 yards as he fired past Amissah to put Livingston in front.

The Staggies levelled 10 minutes into the second half when a cross to the edge of the box found Kacper Lopata. His cross into the six-yard box found Jordan White, who fired home.

Livingston retook the lead in the 61st minute when Scott Muirhead’s long throw-in was not picked up by the County defence and Cristian Montano fired a low drive into the net.

The visitors could have gone 3-1 in front minutes later when Daniel Finlayson was allowed a free header in the box which hit the left post.

County did level in a counter-attack when Jack Grieves’ cross from the right wing found Ronan Hale in the box and the striker fired home for his ninth goal of the season.

The match went into extra-time with Kieran Phillips coming close to giving County the lead at the start of the second period. His shot from eight yards out was tipped over by Prior, who did well to stop the ball finding the net.

Livingston came close to regaining the lead for the third time when McAlear fired a low drive which Amissah did well to stop.

Shinnie then won it in the last minute of extra-time when he was left unchallenged to latch on to a cross from the right wing and fire home.