Livingston recorded their first Bank of Scotland Premier League win since December 4 to close the gap on fellow strugglers Dundee United to just three points at the bottom of the table.

Goals from Ferenc Horvath, David McNamee and Robert Snodgrass against Kilmarnock gave manager Richard Gough only his second win in charge of the team at Almondvale.

Allan Johnston had given the visitors the lead in the 13th minute.

But, nine minutes before the break, Horvath levelled the score before McNamee and Snodgrass wrapped up the three points as Livi closed the gap on 11th-placed United.

Livi made an encouraging start to the game as they set about trying to bring a run of seven successive league defeats to an end.

Midfielder Burton O'Brien saw plenty of the ball early on although the hosts failed to create any decent goalscoring opportunities.

However, as the game went on, Killie looked to be stamping their authority on the match.

Defender Simon Ford should have given the visitors the lead after nine minutes, but he bulleted Gary Locke's corner over the bar from close range.

But the small band of travelling support did not have to wait long for something to cheer when, four minutes later, Johnston capitalised on some slack marking to fire Killie ahead.

Steven Naismith's cross from the right was flicked on by Kris Boyd and former Hearts player Johnston showed great composure to angle the ball past Roddy McKenzie.

Killie took their foot off the gas following their opener and paid the penalty when Horvath restored parity in the 36th minute after the visitors failed to clear their lines.

O'Brien's innocuous cross from the right was headed back across goal by Craig Easton and the Hungarian pounced to take advantage of the indecisiveness of Ford, David Lilley and goalkeeper Alan Combe.

It was a goal the hosts barely deserved as they had created virtually nothing in front of goal prior to equalising.

Livi manager Gough threw on Snodgrass and Colin McMenamin in place of Jason Dair and James McPake six minutes after the restart.

And it was youngster Snodgrass who made an immediate impact by setting up McNamee to score in the 64th minute.

He showed great skill to make space to cross the ball from the goal-line and, when Horvath misjudged a header in the six-yard box, McNamee showed great alertness to fire the loose ball low into the corner of the net.

The introduction of Snodgrass clearly inspired the hosts as he notched a superb third in the 83rd minute.

The 17-year-old ran at the Killie rearguard before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed shot from 20 yards past the hapless Combe to round off a satisfying win for the West Lothian side.

Teams

Livingston McKenzie, McNamee, Deloumeaux, Strong, Stanic, Dair (Snodgrass 54), Vincze, O'Brien, McPake (McMenamin 54), Horvath (Hand 84), Easton.

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Mark Wilson, Bahoken, Kriston.

Booked: Stanic, Deloumeaux, Vincze, Easton.

Goals: Horvath 36, McNamee 64, Snodgrass 83.

Kilmarnock Combe, Fowler, Lilley, Ford, Hay, Johnston, McDonald, Locke (Murray 78), Leven (Invincibile 63), Naismith, Boyd (Nish 45).

Subs Not Used: Smith, Dindeleux, Fontaine, Dodds.

Booked: Lilley, Locke.

Goals: Johnston 13.

Att: 2,536

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).