Livingston stunned St Johnstone with two goals within a minute to climb off the foot of the Scottish Premiership.

St Johnstone again struggled in front of goal and have now lost three in a row without scoring.

Having been replaced in ninth by Livingston, only goal difference is keeping the Perth club off the bottom.

Callum Davidson’s side are the division’s lowest scorers – just four goals in nine games – and have mustered one strike in their past six matches.

The opener was always likely to be pivotal, and while the visitors pushed for it in a decent spell of first-half pressure, they never looked convincing. Stevie May could have broken the deadlock, but his stabbed effort from a Craig Conway delivery was well blocked by Robby McCrorie.

Livingston made the most of that let-off by securing what proved to be an unassailable lead before half-time.

Michael O’Halloran dawdled on the ball in midfield, allowing Tiffoney to nip in and rob him, before breaking forward and then supplying the finish after Forrest had a couple of efforts blocked. It was the forward’s first goal in 16 months.

The duo linked up again moments later to carve a superb clinching goal. Julien Serrano’s cross from the left was cushioned by Tiffoney into the path of Forrest, who guided the ball inside the far post.

Belief drained from the visitors and a comeback was beyond them. Even when they beat McCrorie, with Callum Hendry curling one past the keeper, Jason Holt popped up to head off the line.

Man of the match – Scott Tiffoney

What did we learn?

Livingston are overcoming a slow start to the season. Having pushed Celtic close last week, Gary Holt’s men followed it up by delivering the kind of home performance that was their trademark last term when they finished fifth.

With talisman Lyndon Dykes having moved on, Holt’s frontline did not have a physical focal point against St Johnstone, but the team were no worse for it. Scott Robinson, Tiffoney and Forrest were a lively combination that the visitors had no answer to.

Saints’ problems in attack are glaring, and the lack of clear-cut chances here will surely worry Davidson. The defence, which has been largely solid this season, conceded a preventable opener and from then on they looked doomed.

What’s next?

It does not get any easier for St Johnstone – they have a midday home meeting with champions Celtic next Sunday, while Livingston are away to Dundee United on Friday (19:45 BST).