Livingston officially became the worst team in Bank of Scotland Premier League history after going down 1-0 at Falkirk.

The relegated Lions finished the season with only 18 points which is three fewer than the previous record low tally set by St Johnstone in 2001/02.

Arguably the poorest first half the SPL had ever witnessed saw the teams go in goalless at the break and it wasn't until the 74th minute that Falkirk striker Daniel McBreen's close-range header gave the home side all three points.

In a turgid encounter, Falkirk demonstrated why they had won only once previously in front of their own fans in the SPL while the Lions showed why they will be playing in the First Division next season.

Falkirk had the better of a scrappy start to the game and amid some decent passing sequences Pedro Moutinho had a speculative drive after eight minutes but Livi keeper Roddy McKenzie saved comfortably.

The visitors were shooting into a strong wind which curtailed their attacking instincts but as the game unfolded they began to enjoy their fair share of possession.

However, neither side were looking impressive in terms of attack although given the circumstances the crowd were less inclined to complain than perhaps they would have been earlier in the season.

Around the 20th minute mark Livi forced a couple of corners in quick succession but failed to put Bairns keeper Mark Howard under any real pressure and the match continued on its benign way.

Livingston's well-drilled offside trap was catching the home side out but as a spectacle the game was hardly entertaining.

The game was crying out for a touch of inspiration and it almost arrived when Bairns striker Alan Gow robbed Almondvale playmaker Allan Walker in the 27th minute at the edge of the Livi penalty area but his through ball to McBreen was over-hit, allowing McKenzie to race from his line and gather.

A cloud of consternation began to slowly envelope the Falkirk stadium as the game deteriorated, misplaced pass following misplaced pass.

It was a desperately mistimed tackle after 33 minutes by Livi defender David McNamee on Patrick Cregg 25 yards from goal which earned the Scotland defender a booking but even that incident failed to rouse the crowd from its slumber.

Livi midfielder Richard Brittain's long free-kick from wide on the right, which evaded everyone before arriving at Noel Whelan at the back post, was driven high over the bar by the Englishman. When the half-time whistle arrived it offered welcome respite.

Livingston made an encouraging start to the second half when Whelan chested a ball down to Graeme Dorrans at the edge of the Falkirk penalty area only a minute after the restart. Although the shot was on target, Howard was perfectly placed to save.

However, moments later, when Colin Healy's drive from 30 yards out went spinning out embarrassingly for a throw-in, it seemed the match had reverted to type.

The visitors were certainly showing the greater appetite for the fight but the game still refused to come alight.

In the 57th minute Moutinho had another go from 20 yards out after Gow had helped create some space but again McKenzie was untroubled.

Moments later, Falkirk stopper Karl Dodd had a similar effort but this time the shot failed to even find the target, trundling wide of McKenzie's left-hand post.

In the 65th Cregg floated a free-kick from the left over to the unmarked McBreen at the back post but the Bairns striker was just too wide and could only head into the side net.

At the other end, Wes Hoolahan slammed a free-kick from 25 yards just over the bar before being immediately substituted for Robert Snodgrass.

However, in the 74th minute the tedium was broken when the home side took the lead.

A free-kick from the right by Gow was met at the near post by McBreen who thundered a close-range header past the helpless McKenzie.

It was the first time the Almondvale defence had been caught napping all afternoon and they were almost undone again moments later when Vitor Lima's long-range shot from all of 60 yards beat McKenzie, who had made the original mistake, only to land on top of the net.

Teams:

Falkirk Howard, Ross, Dodds, Lescinel (Churchill 69), Milne,Cregg, Lima, O'Donnell (Craig 55), Moutinho, Gow,McBreen (Scobie 77).

Subs Not Used: Ferguson, Lawrie, Scally, Rodrigues.

Booked: Dodds.

Goals: McBreen 74.

Livingston McKenzie, McNamee (Tierney 64), Strong, Mackay,Miller, Brittain, Healy, Walker, Hoolahan (Snodgrass 67),Whelan (Hislop 60), Dorrans.

Subs Not Used: Woods, Adams, Scott, Weir.

Booked: McNamee, Miller.

Att: 5,355

Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).