Jacobs cracker earns Livingston point at Motherwell

Keaghan Jacobs was the saviour for Livingston as they extended their Ladbrokes Premiership unbeaten run to seven games with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at struggling Motherwell.

Ryan Bowman’s first-half strike was cancelled out by a breathtaking Jacobs free-kick with the Lions now without defeat since the opening-day loss to champions Celtic.

The Steelmen did have chances in what was a fiercely-contested match, but are now five games without a win although they did halt a four-game losing streak.

Gary Holt’s side made a bright start in the Lanarkshire sunshine but found themselves behind after 17 minutes.

The returning Allan Campbell broke onto a loose ball and threaded through for Bowman as the usually-compact Livi defence opened up.

The forward’s effort sailed into the net with the aid of a deflection for his first league goal of the season.

Livi then had the ball in the net from a corner but referee Willie Collum disallowed the goal for an apparent foul by Dolly Menga on Trevor Carson.

But Livingston got their reward for a strong second-half display when Jacobs curled in a beauty of a free-kick just after the hour mark.

Peter Hartley was adjudged to have fouled the busy Menga. The returning Motherwell captain picked up a booking too but worse was still to come when Jacobs seized the moment.

The midfielder usually goes about his business quietly, mopping up opposition attacks and starting his own team’s with simple passes.

But on this occasion he leapt to the forefront of the match with a stunning strike that swerved and bent beyond the despairing Carson.

The visitors were given ever more incentive to go and win the match when Carl McHugh was dismissed for two bookings within the space of just eight minutes.

That spurred the Lions on as they hunted for a late winner to continue their fairytale start to the season but it wasn’t to be as the Steelmen held on for a point in the end.