Hibernian vs Livingston. Scottish Premiership.
Easter RoadAttendance14,932.
Match report as Livingston pile on the misery for Hibernian with victory at Easter Road
Saturday 26 August 2023 20:43, UK
Hibernian's disappointing start to the season continued as Livingston secured a deserved 3-2 win at Easter Road in the Scottish Premiership.
The visitors took an early lead as the unfortunate Jordan Obita got the final touch as he slid in with Scott Pittman to turn the ball into his own net.
Martin Boyle pulled Hibs level with a stunning solo goal early in the second half but Bruce Anderson restored Livi's advantage with a header just a minute later.
Another Livingston substitute, Mo Sangare, heaped further misery on Hibs as he lashed home a spectacular third for the visitors from just outside the area.
Josh Campbell got on the scoresheet as Hibs threatened a comeback but it was in vain as they fell to a third straight defeat in the league to increase the pressure on manager Lee Johnson.
The Hibs boss had made five changes to the side who were humbled 5-0 by Aston Villa in Europe on Wednesday, with Rocky Bushiri, Riley Harbottle, Allan Delferriere, James Jeggo and Christian Doidge coming into the starting line-up.
Livingston manager David Martindale, meanwhile, made just two changes with Jamie Brandon and Scott Pittman replacing Steven Kelly and Cristian Montano.
After a scrappy start to the game it was the visitors who grabbed the advantage in the eighth minute. James Penrice delivered a delicious low cross from the left and Pittman and Obita slid in together at the back post, with the Hibs defender credited with the own goal.
Hibernian looked to reply and Doidge had their first chance after a quarter of an hour as he glanced a header over following an inswinging cross from Delferriere.
Livi were happy to play on the counter-attack as the half progressed but Hibs struggled to create anything of note despite lots of possession and the home fans made their feelings known as the half-time whistle was blown.
Hibs were forced into a change at the interval as David Marshall was replaced by Max Boruc and the young goalkeeper was called into action almost immediately, making a crucial stop as Joel Nouble went through one on one after a Will Fish error.
The home side had improved slightly after the break and they did haul themselves level just after the hour mark through a moment of magic. Boyle was released by a Doidge flick-on and the winger showed all his pace as he cut onto his left foot and thrashed a thunderous strike past Shamal George.
Hibs' joy was short-lived though and the majority of fans inside Easter Road were left stunned just a minute later as Livingston's lead was restored. The tireless Penrice was the architect again as he stood up a deep cross that was
headed home by substitute Anderson with virtually his first touch.
It soon got worse for the hosts. Nouble had given the home defence a torrid afternoon and it was his inch-perfect aerial ball that released Sangare, who drilled home a thunderous half-volley with his left foot from just outside the box.
Livingston nearly made it 4-1 through Nouble before Hibs cut the deficit as Campbell tapped home on 86 minutes to set up a grandstand finish.
But the hosts were unable to find a leveller as their pointless start to their campaign continued, while Livingston secured their first away league win since January.
Hibernian manager Lee Johnson said: "I genuinely do apologise because I didn't want to start like this. I was full of beans - I still am - going into the season and this has caught us out a little bit.
"I hope they (the board) stick with me, I really do, because I want to be here. I'd never throw the towel in. And I understand there will be fans calling for my head. But I genuinely believe that we'll do it. I think we've got a good squad, I think we've had a few issues - and we've got to tidy up our defensive stuff.
"It's unacceptable, I understand that. I'm okay to take responsibility for that knowing I still have belief in the squad. I think the squad still believe in us and what we're doing and are as frustrated as anybody.
"I can understand the scrutiny. I have been here before. It's not nice. There's a human there as well and sometimes people forget that. We work extremely hard and I just want the positivity in the football club. That focus is on me and I'd rather it was on me than the players.
"It's small margins and I honestly believe if we see out 10 minutes at 1-1 our momentum takes the game back. I'm disappointed because I love it here and I believe in us. But at the same time I've experienced this before in my career."
Livingston manager David Martindale said: "I'm really, really happy. I thought the boys were very good within the game. I've changed the shape three or four times and it's not really had a negative impact on the fluidity of the game.
"I felt we created the best chances and had the best scoring opportunities. Martin Boyle scores a really good goal so I'll take that on the chin.
"The second one is a mistake which comes from us but apart from that I don't think they threatened our goal a lot in the game, whereas we had Joel Nouble's one-v-one, we had the penalty shout and we had Bruce Anderson's chance."
Hibernian's attention turns to the second leg of their Europa Conference League play-off against Aston Villa on Thursday night before a Scottish Premiership match against Aberdeen on September 3.
Livingston host St Mirren in their next Scottish Premiership match on September 2. Both matches kick off at 3pm.
