Mullen gutted as Lions lose out to Dundee

Gareth Evans’ men went down 2-0 early on at home to SPL side Dundee with goals from Steven Milne and Ryan Conroy, but even though they enjoyed plenty of possession the home outfit couldn’t find a route back into the tie.

Mullen has emerged as a first-team performer in recent weeks and, despite the disappointment of failing to get through to the next round, he’s loving the chance to mix it up in the Livi first team.

He said: “I thought we were the better side and passed the ball a lot better, but we should have taken our chances and we need to be a bit tighter at the back sometimes.

“We had to go for it at 2-0 down as there’s no point in sitting back – so I guess I came on to try and help get a couple of goals out of it.

“Despite this, playing’s been a good confidence boost. The players have been great. They give you confidence, talk to you during games and help you through it.”

The visitors got off to a fast start and just nine minutes were on the clock when Milne was played in by a neat ball in the box, and he slotted past Andy McNeil.

It was two only eight minutes later, as John Baird plummeted to the turf under a challenge from Jesus Garcia Tena and Conroy sent McNeil the wrong way from the spot.

Livi could have pulled one back on 20 minutes when Liam Fox’s shot from outside the box seemed to strike a Dundee hand, but referee Crawford Allan waved play on to the visible disgust of Evans – who charged down the touchline to remonstrate with the assistant.

The second half saw the Lions enjoy the majority of possession, but they struggled to break down a disciplined if strikingly unadventurous Dundee side.

The best chances fell to Kyle Jacobs and Marc McNulty, but on both occasions Rab Douglas made the save.

On a rare breakaway Dundee almost made it three, but Declan Gallagher’s close-range shot was blocked well by McNeil.