Livingston 0-2 St Johnstone

Mar 16 2008 Rob Fairburn Reports

TWO moments of magic from Celtic loan star Rocco Quinn kept Saints' faint title hopes alive and plunged hapless Livingston deeper into the mire.

Quinn netted in each half to wrap up a comfortable victory for the Perth outfit although they had hoped leaders Hamilton might have slipped up against Dundee.

Saints boss Derek McInnes is refusing to throw in the towel even though they are 12 points behind with a game in hand.

He said: "We might run out of games to catch them but credit to Hamilton as it was a fantastic result for them. But things can tighten up a bit in the run-in so we have to concentrate on our jobs and keep winning.

"I don't want to take anything away from our display but we were a bit wasteful with chances and it took two great pieces of individual skill from Rocco to win it."

Saints could have been four up after the first 10 minutes as they piled the pressure on the Livi goal.

The breakthrough came in 24 minutes when Quinn evaded the offside trap and chipped the ball over advancing keeper Colin Stewart before tapping home from a yard out.

Saints almost extended their lead 10 minutes later when Liam Craig's fierce volley was headed off the line by Robert Snodgrass.

Ten minutes after the re-start Snodgrass met Craig James' cross only to be foiled by Saints keeper Alan Main.

The killer goal for the Perth side came a minute later when Quinn picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and unleashed a thunderbolt into the roof of the net.

Livi have now gone nine matches without a win but Almondvale boss Mark Proctor is refusing to make wholesale changes - despite the demands of the fans.

He said: "I thought we did well in the second half.

"We had a very good chance through Snodgrass to equalise and then they ran down the park and got a second goal.

"There were a few Indians in the stand as usual asking for changes.

"They seem to know what the answers are but we had four 17-year-olds on the bench and I did not think it was the right time to blood them."

MoM: Quinn (St Johnstone)