Livingston capitalised on some catastrophic defending from Dundee United to keep alive their hopes of producing a dramatic late escape from relegation.

Sam Morrow gave the Lions an early lead when he took advantage of a mix-up between goalkeeper Craig Samson and Garry Kenneth, only for David Robertson to equalise when he turned in Charlie Mulgrew's cross.

Nevertheless John Robertson's battling side recovered from that setback and, after a collision between Samson and David McCracken, Harold Pinxten netted from close range, before Richard Brittain scored a penalty in stoppage time.

The home side started buoyantly and in only the second minute, right-back David Mackay pushed far enough forward to cut inside Charlie Mulgrew and test Samson with a shot from 15 yards which was comfortably gathered by the United goalkeeper.

However, five minutes later Samson and Kenneth conspired to end up in a state of complete confusion as neither took on the responsibility of dealing with a Colin Healy through ball and Morrow capitalised, first winning a challenge with the keeper, before calmly rolling the loose ball into an unguarded goal.

The former Hibernian forward then tried his luck from 20 yards, only to be denied by Samson who tipped the ball around the post at full stretch.

Despite offering little for the previous 19 minutes, the away side grabbed an ill-deserved equaliser with their first real attack when Mulgrew's centre was flicked in at the near post by Robertson.

The Tannadice club came close to scoring a second goal when Stuart Duff sent a looping effort just past Roddy McKenzie's far post from the edge of the penalty area.

Five minutes before the break, on-loan Celtic defender Mulgrew then showed why he may feature in Parkhead manager Gordon Strachan's plans next season with a lovely nutmeg on Brittain which led to an inswinging cross being delivered into the Livingston box.

The ball carried through to Grant Brebner on the far side of the area, but from his return ball Collin Samuel could not direct a shot from an acute angle on target.

United may have taken eight minutes in the first half to hand Livingston a goal courtesy of a defensive mix-up, but in the second period the Lions took only four minutes to punish some appalling defending from the away side.

Wes Hoolahan's left-footed cross from the right created panic in the Tannadice club's rearguard and, when McCracken collided with Samson, Pinxten was afforded the luxury of shooting into an empty net from barely two yards out.

A well-rehearsed corner straight from the training ground then nearly put Livingston into a two-goal lead when Hoolahan's outswinging delivery allowed Healy to smash a volley towards goal from 20 yards out which was well saved by Samson.

However, in the 67th minute Livingston had to rely on goalkeeper McKenzie producing a magnificent save to stay in the lead when he pushed a curling Mulgrew free-kick from distance just over the bar.

United finished the match strongly and Barry Robson wasted a great opportunity to net an equaliser when he blasted a cut back from Samuel over the bar from 16 yards out.

But Livi were not to be denied and after Alan Archibald hauled down substitute Steve Hislop in the penalty area, Brittain confidently converted the resultant spot kick to secure the Lions' fourth win of the season.

Teams:

Livingston McKenzie, McNamee, Pinxten, Strong, Mackay,Brittain, Walker (Tierney 90), Healy, Hoolahan (Adams 76),Morrow, Whelan (Hislop 75).

Subs Not Used: Roy, Snodgrass, Miller, Dorrans.

Booked: Walker, Whelan.

Goals: Morrow 8, Pinxten 49, Brittain 90 pen.

Dundee Utd Samson, McCracken, Archibald, Kenneth (Ritchie 59),Mulgrew, Duff, Kerr, Brebner, Robson, Samuel, Robertson.

Subs Not Used: McLean, Cameron, Gardiner, Abbot, Easton,

Goodwillie.

Booked: Robertson, Ritchie.

Goals: Robertson 19.

Att: 2,298

Ref: B Winter (Scotland).