CSABA Laszlo this week warned onlookers to write Dundee United off at their peril in the race for the Championship title but, while the loquacious Hungarian is always ready to talk the talk, his players failed to walk the walk on a breathless night in West Lothian.

It remains to be seen whether any team can emerge as credible challengers to St Mirren, who retain an eight-point lead at the top of the table and face a Brechin City team without a victory all season today, however based on last night’s display it will not be United. 

Now with just one win in their last six league matches, they were out-thought and out-fought in the first half by a well-drilled, energetic Livingston outfit who deservedly sit in second spot and are a credit to the magnificent work being done by manager David Hopkin. 

United did show some gumption and rally after the break, with Matthew Smith cancelling out Scott Robinson’s opener. However, when Ryan Hardie lashed home a stunning injury-time winner it was richly merited. 

Almost two weeks on from their last fixture, United were able to welcome stalwart defender Tam Scobbie back from a calf injury, while Scott McDonald returned to the starting line-up in place of Smith. 

In the most predictable decision of the evening, Livingston manager Hopkin named the exact same starting 11 to the one which dismantled league leaders St Mirren 4-1 last weekend. 

And it took just two minutes for Hardie, whose brace against the Saints took his tally to four goals in five appearances since joining on loan from Rangers, to force a sharp save from Harry Lewis with a stinging drive from distance. 

Lewis them rushed from his line to smother another Hardie effort as Livingston began the encounter in irrepressible fashion.  

Respite for United was offered in the form of a ferocious Emil Lyng effort from the edge of the box which was punched to safety by Neil Alexander. 

However, that proved to be a fleeting moment of attacking intent from the fragile Terrors and Livingston claimed a merited lead mid-way through the first period. 

A Raffaele De Vita free-kick was only partly cleared to the excellent Lee Miller, who utterly bullied Mark Durnan and Scobbie throughout this contest, and the veteran attacker teed up Robinson to produce a sumptuous curling shot beyond Lewis from the edge of the box. 

After seeing one Hearts alumnus break the deadlock, another former Tynecastle man sought to restore parity, however Billy King’s laudable run and shot culminated in a fine low save by Alexander. 

Only the flag of assistant referee, Graeme Stewart, stopped Livingston from extending their lead on the cusp of half-time as he adjudged Hardie to have looped a header beyond Lewis from an offside position.

There was a flicker of life from Laszlo’s men when skipper Willo Flood unleashed a powerful shot from 25 yards which forced Alexander into a fingertip save.

United, throwing bodies forward in a bid to salvage their slim title hopes, found the leveller with 16 minutes to play when second-half substitute Smith lashed beyond Alexander at his near post. 

However, there would be another twist to the tale when Hardie picked up the ball 30 yards from goal in injury time. The languid forward strode forward and unleashed a simply sensational drive into the bottom corner to claim all three points for Livingston.