Killie's disappointing run in Nov continued today. For the second time in 6 weeks Killie fail to beat the bottom of the league side. (Remember Inverness !) Gone are Combe's heroics in goal, gone is Colin Nish's goal scoring run, gone is Killie's sweeping attacking prowess. It was just 4 short weeks ago that Killie took apart a decent Hibs side 3-1 at Rugby Park..... BUT .... today...... UUUUUGGGGGHHHHH! Without Locke, Leven & Boyd, Killie really are a struggling outfit.

Youth coach Alex Cleland was in charge of Livingston, with former Rangers defender Richard Gough, strongly tipped to succeed Allan Preston, watching from the main stand.

Livi captain Stuart Lovell was dropped from the squad, having voiced criticism of the way the club is run last week.

And Cleland handed first-team debuts to youngsters Ryan Harding and Stephen Adam.

Livingston took the lead after seven minutes when David McNamee flighted a perfect cross onto the head of Hamilton and he left Killie goalkeeper Combe with no chance with a downward header from six yards.

The visitors were then unfortunate when Craig Easton stabbed just wide of the upright from close range.

Killie had rarely looked like causing any problems for lively Livi but a moment of magic from Allan Johnston was enough to haul them back to level terms.

Derek Lilley slipped to allow Johnston to collect the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box before embarking on an impressive run which took him past several Livingston players before firing high into the back of the net after 24 minutes.

Killie's Gary MacDonald then tried his luck with an audacious, curling shot which flashed just over the crossbar.

However, the visitors continued to play the better football and they were rewarded five minutes before the break when Hamilton scored his second of the day.

The impressive O'Brien fired in a fierce shot from 25 yards and Combe couldn't hold on to it, allowing the big striker to slide in and poke the ball into the net.

Livingston extended their lead further after 59 minutes when O'Brien swung a corner kick into the box, which was cleared by the Kilmarnock defence.

But O'Brien raced to collect the ball again and the result was a stunning 20-yard drive which flew past the helpless Combe.

Lilley then collected the ball at the near post before crossing into the path of Hamilton, and he looked certain to grab his hat-trick with a close-range strike, only for Freddie Dindeleux to nod clear on the line.

Kilmarnock were unfortunate not to pull a goal back when Stephen Murray released MacDonald into the box, only for goalkeeper Roddie McKenzie to clear the danger, who got the slightest of touches with his legs.

Kilmarnock desperately went in search of the goals which would allow them to take something from the game but a staunch Livingston defence were determined to hold onto their lead

In the closing stages Nish chipped the ball just wide, and Murray missed a sitter with his head from close range.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Greer, (Joly 45 mins), Ford, Lilley, Dindeleux, Invincibile (Naismith 73 mins), McDonald, Johnston,  Wales (Murray 56 mins), Nish

Subs Not Used:  Smith, Hay Dargo, Canning 

Attendance: 5,389