Ten man Kilmarnock throw away two goal lead in season opening draw with Livingston
Kilmarnock kicked-off the Premiership season by throwing away a two goal lead in a 2-2 home draw with newly promoted Livingston.
Two goals in the space of just three minutes shortly before the interval appeared to have the hosts in control, but the contest turned on George Stanger's red card midway through the second half.
Djenairo Daniels raced through to open the scoring on 39 minutes with a composed finish that had originally been ruled offside. David Watson doubled the tally moments later when Jerome Prior palmed a Jamie Brandon delivery into the path of the midfielder to roll home.
Livi looked for a way back into the contest, and were handed it by the home side. Stanger dragged Robbie Muirhead down inside the box with whistler Matthew McDermid awarding a penalty and sending off the defender following a VAR check. Muirhead promptly fired home from 12 yards out.
The visitors looked the most likely to find the next goal, and they duly did so four minutes from time as Scott Pittman swept home Lewis Smith's pass high into the net for the equaliser to mark a disappointing afternoon for Killie and boss Stuart Kettlewell in his first league game at the helm.
With vice-captain Robbie Deas suspended and centre-back an area lacking in depth for the hosts, skipper Brad Lyons was drafted in on the right-side of a back three while new boys Daniels and Marcus Dackers were given the nod as the attacking pair in the season opener.
Both sides looked to get on the front foot early, but chances were lacking. The hosts almost pounced on 11 minutes after stealing possession with Livi looking to play out from the back, but Watson's effort was blocked after being teed up by Dackers.
Max Stryjek was man of the match against his former side when the two teams faced off in the League Cup a fortnight ago and he had to be alert to prevent Livi going in front on 20 minutes as Adam Montgomery's fizzing strike from the edge of the box took a deflection in a congested penalty area. The Polish stopper re-adjusted and was able to get down low to claw the ball away before it rolled into the net.
The home side took total control of the contest thanks to a quick-fire double just before the break. Daniels timed his run perfectly to race in behind the defence and fire beyond Prior on 39 minutes before the keeper palmed out a Jamie Brandon ball across goal straight into the path of Watson who rolled home under pressure to double the advantage.
Livi looked to drag themselves back into the contest but Montgomery's header under pressure at the back post eight minutes after the restart was comfortably dealt with by Stryjek.
With Killie seemingly in control, they shot themselves in the foot midway through the half as, following a VAR check, Stanger was deemed to have dragged down Muirhead inside the box. That resulted in both a penalty and a red card with former Killie man Muirhead slotting home from the spot.
He was inches away from doubling his tally a few minutes later when the dead-ball specialist curled a 22-yard free-kick narrowly wide of the woodwork.
Livi sensed a change in momentum and went close once again to a leveller on 77 minutes as neat play down the left flank eventually led to Stryjek sticking out a foot to deny Montgomery as the full-back looked to beat him at the near post.
The keeper was beaten four minutes from time as Smith darted into the box before rolling the ball into the path of Pittman.
Both sides went searching for a dramatic late winner but none arrived as the honours were even in the top flight's curtain raiser.
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