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Watch Sportscene via tab at top of the page Livingston lead thanks to Muirhead penalty & Mc Alear effort from close range Brad Spencer gets one back from the penalty spot Andrew Petrie FT: Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Livingston defender Ryan Mc Gowan tells BBC Scotland: "Falkirk are a good team, the best in the league this season, but we've done well against them in the previous two games and again tonight. We know there's a long way to go. "I shouldn't have gone to ground, I wasn't too sure [if there was contact]. " Mdifielder Macaulay Tait adds: "I'm not normally that high up the pitch, but I knew if I got a touch the goalie was taking me out. It was a penalty! "There is a lot to play for, in two Cups and fighting for the league. Nights like these are exactly why I came. It's a great experience. " FT: Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Player of the match Reece Mc Alear tells BBC Scotland: "It feels amazing, big game, big occasion. Wasn't the greatest of games in terms of quality, loads of fouls in there, but you need to win those games. "[The manager at half-time] just said next 10-15 minutes of the second half was most important but we had to hang on at the end. It shows the good team spirit in there, we could have lost at the end. "Falkirk are a good football team but we've beaten them twice this season and run over the top of them. " FT: Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Lee Miller Former Falkirk manager on BBC Scotland It was a real gutsy performance from Livingston. Falkirk will be disappointed, they just didn't do enough - didn't work the goalie enough, didn't get enough balls into the box. They were just a wee bit off it tonight. I was surprised to see Calvin Miller come off when he did because he was causing problems. FT: Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Marvin Bartley Former Hibernian midfielder on BBC Scotland A real professional performance from Livingston in the second half. They showed all their experience in the second half, they slowed it down, made it bitty and ugly and took Falkirk out of their stride. This was a must-win for Livingston and they've gone and done it. FT: Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Falkirk lose at home for the first time since 2023 in the league and David Martindale roars his delight. He's straight over to those travelling fans, arms aloft. He then picks out Danny Finlayson and delivers him a rocket, which includes the word "CORNER! " Reaction to come. Despite all their endeavour, Falkirk are undone by two counter-punches from Livingston and suddenly the Championship title race is blown wide open. Falkirk were running away with it but their form in early 2025 has let them down and now they're just a point ahead of Livingston. Don't rule out Scott Brown's Ayr United, either. They play Hamilton tomorrow and could go top with a win. Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Falkirk are knocking on the door, but Livingston are repelling them and coming forward. .. Danny Finlayson chooses not to go for the corner and tries the pass - but it's picked off and now it's Falkirk coming again. Here comes Keelan Adams. .. and he fires it inches wide! That was the chance! Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Reece Mc Alear is given the player of the match award by our pundit Leanne Crichton. "He's been a big, big player for them. " At the moment, it looks like he's scored the winner. Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Now Liam Henderson is into the book for taking out Danny Finlayson as Livingston break forward. That's a sore one, and the Falkirk momentum evaporates. The first Falkirk booking and it could have been worse, if VAR was in play tonight. Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Livingston sucking every second out of this that they can, but Falkirk are throwing everything at it. A Liam Henderson cross comes to Keelan Adams at the back post, and his drive is well-saved by Jerome Prior. Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Tete Yengi is now into the book as he fouls a Falkirk player down in the corner. Brad Spencer tries to take it quick, but the play is pulled back by Graham Grainger. Spencer is not happy about it, none of the Falkirk fans inside the stadium are happy about it. They're a deeply frustrated bunch right now. Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Another Livingston change. Andrew Shinnie - a favourite of BBC Radio One presenter Greg James, I believe - is on. He replaces Stevie May. Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Leanne Crichton Former Scotland international on BBC Scotland I've seen Falkirk play way better than they have done tonight. They're up against a good side and it probably tells you how good Livingston are, that they've been able to nullify Falkirk for large parts of this game. Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Mc Gowan is the latest Livingston player into the book as he clashes heads with Gary Oliver. The fourth of the night for the visitors. Falkirk 1-2 Livingston It's really opening up now as Falkirk search desperately for an equaliser. There's also been plenty of fiery challenges. You can't take your eyes off it. Falkirk have changed things up top. Alfie Agyeman and Gary Oliver are on for Calvin Miller and Barney Stewart. Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Leanne Crichton Former Scotland international on BBC Scotland It's more end-to-end now, the type of game you'd expect between these two sides. Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Huge chance for Livingston as Tete Yengi nods a cross back into the path of Stevie May. Time seems to stand still as the ball arrives to May. .. but his shot is blocked desperately by a despairing Falkirk defender. That's kept them in the game! Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Ryan Mc Gowan blocks a Falkirk cross with his body. The Falkirk fans behind the goal scream for a penalty. Nothing given. The Australian looks a little sheepish, before exchanging a few words with the fans. All friendly, I'm sure. Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Robbie Muirhead, scorer of the first goal and eternal wind-up merchant, is off the pitch and replaced by Tete Yengi - who scored that wonderstrike the last time the sides met. Just over 20 minutes let - can Livingston hang on to a priceless three points? Falkirk 1-2 Livingston Stephen comes through with the goods! Another contentious one, folks. You know what to do with those thumbs. This video can not be played Falkirk pull one back from penalty spot Robbie Muirhead (right) converted an early penalty at the Falkirk Stadium Livingston moved to within one point of Championship leaders Falkirk by inflicting the Bairns' first home league defeat since April 2023. Robbie Muirhead fired Davie Martindale's Lions ahead from the penalty spot after on-loan Hearts midfielder Macaulay Tait was felled by Falkirk goalkeeper, Nicky Hogarth. John Mc Glynn's side - who were last beaten on league duty at the Falkirk Stadium by Edinburgh City when in League 1 - started the brighter and should have been in front through Barney Stewart, on his first start since joining from Heriot Watt University. They were left to rue that, and a handful of other chances, even more when Reece Mc Alear got the final touch during a mad melee just before half-time. The stop-start nature of the night did not suit the usually fluid Falkirk, though they did snatch one back through a penalty of their own. Stewart delayed his fall after feeling contact from Ryan Mc Gowan, but referee Graham Grainger did not hesitate in pointing to the spot. Like Muirhead, Brad Spencer coolly slotted into the left corner, but his effort could not energise the league leaders enough to net a second. Keelan Adams came closest to an equaliser with a powerful drive in the dying embers of stoppage time. Ayr United now have the chance to take over at the top if they can beat Hamilton Academical on Saturday. Last Updated 31st January 2025 at 21: 42 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: John Mc Glynn Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 Manager: David Martindale Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: John Mc Glynn Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 Manager: David Martindale Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.