QUEEN’S PARK kicked off the William Hill Championship campaign with a defeat in West Lothian.

Two second half goals for Robbie Muirhead gave Livingston the spoils on their return to the second-tier following last season’s Premiership relegation.

The Spiders had chances – Lewis Stewart hitting the crossbar just after half-time, and Jerome Prior denying Callum Smith late on – but the points stayed with the home side.

The first chance fell to former Livi forward Jack Hamilton, but the Spiders’ summer signing blasted over on the third minute after Michael Ruth had hassled the home defence into conceding possession.

At the other end Hamilton’s namesake Wills made a smart two-fisted stop to deny Tyrese Sinclair after his drive at goal from the edge of the area.

Two minutes later the home fans were on their feet, believing Graham Carey had broken the deadlock, but he’d fired his strike against the advertising boards and rebounded onto the back of the net.

After a bright opening ten minutes from The Spiders, Livingston had begun to test the visitors’ rearguard more.

Queen’s Park were standing up to the test though, and Louis Longridge took a sore one on the half-hour mark, blocking a Carey drive with the back of his head and then landing awkwardly on his face.

He was thankfully fit to continue for the remainder of the half and it was Longridge who teed up Matty Shiels in the flashpoint at the end of the first half. The left-back took the pass and released Jack Hamilton on the shoulder of Brooklyn Kabongolo and the defender impeded the forward’s progress. There was no red card despite the Spiders protests and no benefit taken from the free-kick.

Sheils was cautioned five minutes before the break as the game opened up with Aidan Connolly making in-roads on the right and Livi testing the Spiders down each flank without asking anything more of Wills.

More would come in the second half though.

That same end of the The Home of the Set fare Arena saw immediate action after the break when Lewis Stewart rattled the bar on the 48^th minute when clean through – then Livi went ahead at the other end, just 25 seconds later.

The on-loan Ranger earned the chance on his own, closing down the home defender to force a turnover in possession and then smashed a shot beyond Jerome Prior, but just too high to find the net.

Livi used the let-off to respond and when Sinclair won a battle with Carlo Pignatiello on the by line, his cross was flicked beyond Wills by Robbie Muirhead.

Sean Crighton rang the changes on 65 minutes, pitching in Aiden McCallion, Ross McLean and Tyrece McDonnell for Longridge, Hamilton and Stewart.

Livingston doubled their lead and Muirhead doubled his tally with 15 to go after a teasing cross from Sinclair was kept in play by Babacar Fati at the back post and Muirhead converted on the spin.

Zeb Lawson and Callum Smith were next on for the visitors and while Smith tested Prior with a header low at his right-hand post, the home side held on for three points on their return to the Championship.

The Spiders must now dust themselves down and prepare for a home match at The city Stadium next week with Raith Rovers  travelling to the southside.