Livingston were beaten 2-1 at Easter Road last Wednesday after a poor first half performance gave them a mountain to climb in the second half.

The Hibees took the lead after just eight minutes through Kevin Nisbet. After some good build-up play, Paul McGinn found Martin Boyle inside the box and the winger showed good composure to cut back for Nisbet who couldn’t miss from close range. It was the Scotland international’s 14^th Premiership goal of the season.

On 26 minutes, the hosts doubled their advantage from the spot. Martin Boyle cut inside from the right wing and was brought down by his former team mate Efe Ambrose. Boyle stepped up to take the penalty, and sent Stryjek the wrong way dispatching his effort into the top right corner.

Livingston tweaked personnel and tactics at half time in the hope of getting back into the game. It was a much-improved display in the second half.

Substitutes Matej Poplatnik and Alan Forrest both had chances to find the net, but both couldn’t find the target in a frustrating evening for Davie Martindale and his side.

The Lions did get one back though. With five minutes to play, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was brought down by Kyle Magennis inside the box. The striker stepped-up to take and converted with ease, sending Marciano the opposite way.

It was too little too late though for Livingston, who ended a four-game unbeaten run at Easter Road since promotion to the top flight in 2018.

Hibernian: Marciano, McGinn, Hanlon, Porteous, Stevenson, Gogic ▊, Irvine ▊, Newell ▊ (⇔ Magennis 82), Doidge (⇔ Wright 76), Nisbet, Boyle
Subs not used: Macey, Gray, Hallberg, McGregor, Bradley
Goals: Nisbet (8), Boyle (26 pen)

Livingston: Stryjek, Lithgow, Guthrie, Ambrose (⇔ Forrest 45 ▊), Devlin ▊, Holt ▊, Pittman, Longridge (⇔ McMillan 28), Sibbald (⇔ Diani 80), Mullin (⇔ Poplatnik 67), Emmanuel-Thomas
Subs not used: McCrorie, Taylor-Sinclair, Fitzwater, Bartley, Kabia
Goals: Emmanuel-Thomas (85 pen)

Referee: Craig Napier
HT: 0-2
Att: BCD
Match Report: Calum Brown

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