Livingston’s renowned battling qualities were put to the test after the Lions claimed a deserved share of the spoils at home to Dundee United, even though they played the entire second half with ten men.

The match swung in the visitors' favour in first half injury time when on loan Rangers midfielder Ben Williamson was dismissed for a high challenge on Declan Glass by referee Colin Steven.

Livingston manager Davie Martindale was also sent off for taking his protests too far,

Despite the numerical disparity, there were no further goals after the break.

Livingston had gone ahead through Jack Fitzwater’s 37th minute header but that lead lasted only five minutes, Peter Pawlett finishing off a flowing move.

In the end, a point apiece was a fair reflection on the game given the effort the home side put in after the break.

The minute’s silence to mark the passing of Walter Smith was impeccably observed by both sides of fans inside the Tony Macaroni Arena.

The more senior fans among a sizeable away following would no doubt also have reminisced about the role Smith, a former player, assistant manager and director played in their halcyon days in the 1980s.

Another league triumph is likely to be beyond United in the current climate, but those fans are at least enjoying their team being in the higher echelons of the Premiership under Tam Courts’ tutelage.

The visitors began with a swagger having won their previous three games heading into this clash, and within the first 60 seconds they went close through Pawlett.

Some lovely one-touch football down the left-flank released Scott McMann and his low cross was met by Pawlett at the front post but the winger could only stab his effort wide.

The greasy surface seemed to suit United as they made the most of the conditions to zip the ball from side to side.

Courts' side looked threatening every time they got into the final third, although at the other end Charlie Mulgrew had to look lively to block a Bruce Anderson shot from a Nicky Devlin corner.

Just like the artificial pitch was able to absorb the incessant rain, Livingston successfully weathered the early storm and began to grow into the game with their typical dogged approach.

The home side conjured up the next chance when Williamson whipped a rising half-volley just over Benji Siegrist’s bar from 20 yards after collecting the scraps from an Odin Bailey cross.

A fairly uneventful start to the game gave no indication of how the half would end. In the final nine minutes, both teams traded goals, while Livingston found themselves a man down on the pitch and in the dugout.

The hosts broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when defender Fitzwater connected with Bailey’s cross to force home a header at the near post, despite goalkeeper Siegrist’s desperate attempts to keep it out.

United responded with an equaliser five minutes later. Crisp passing sliced open the Lions rearguard as Ilmari Niskanen found himself in space inside the box from a piercing McMann pass.

The winger squared for Pawellt and the forward was left with the simple task of finding the gaping goal.

There was more drama to come in first half injury time as Livingston’s Williamson was shown a straight red card by referee Colin Steven for running his studs down the shin for Glass.

So incensed was Davie Martindale about that decision that the Livingston manager was also given his marching orders by the referee.

Livingston brought on Cristian Montano for Anderson at the break and set United the target of breaking them down as they made it clear they were happy to settle for a point.

United struggled for ideas and were left having to resort with efforts from distance. On one occasion Max Stryjek pushed a Charlie Mulgrew effort over before then having to save sub Maxime Biamou’s header.