Livingston slipped to the bottom of the league following a poor performance at Easter Road losing out 4-0 to Hibernian. A first half goal from Thibault Klidje was added to by a second half Jamie McGrath penalty and a Junior Hoilett double to leave Livi bottom of the Premiership on goals difference.

It’s been a while since the Lions were last in competitive action, with David Martindale naming two changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Dundee United at Tannadice a fortnight ago. Shane Blaney replaced Macaulay Tait and the injured Lewis Smith dropped out for Jeremy Bokila.

Livi started well, drawing a corner in the opening couple of minutes, but failed to convert. This allowed Hibs to drive down the other end, the ball finding Nicky Cadden, but the former Lion’s shot was off target.

Josh Mulligan intercepted a Dan Finlayson switch ball in the middle of the Lion’s half, getting to the edge of the box, his shot deflected for a corner which looked dangerous at the onset however was eventually cleared by Livi.

The hosts opened the scoring on 9 minutes. A through ball appeared to be under control by Shane Blaney, however the defender was muscled off the ball by Thibault Klidje, and the Togolese player made no mistake with the resulting one-on-one, blasting high past Jerome Prior in the Livi goal.

Livi looked to respond quickly, with Mo Susoho finding great space in the Hibs box. The cross from the left found his feet, but the Manchester City loanee couldn’t direct his volley goalward.

After a furious start, the game settled into a more manageable tempo for both sides, with the hosts enjoying a lion share of the possession. Livi were forced into an early change midway through the half, with Blaney taking a knock and being replaced by Andy Winter. The change in shape allowed Livi more freedom in their attacking play, with Stevie May slotting into the attacking midfield role and linking the play to the attackers.

Hibs were looking threatening going forward, with Klidje more than once being fortuitous with long balls falling to him. With less than 10 minutes to the half, one such opportunity allowed him to play an incredible pass to Nicky Cadden in the box, with Winter doing enough to put the winger off, his shot wide of the mark.

The Lions were biting back though, and a cleverly worked corner saw May drive into the box before cutting back to Connor McLennan, but his shot was poor and high over the bar.

Martindale rolled the dice at half time in the hunt to get into the game, with Pittman, McLennan and Wilson making way for Macaulay Tait, Robbie Muirhead and Cristian Montano.

Muirhead showed intent early on, winning possession on the left-hand side before playing the ball forward to May. The ball looked to be rolling out for a goal kick but for former Scotland cap, hustling the defender and winning a corner, which was headed wide by Bokila.

Hibs called upon Prior twice within a matter of minutes who pulled off two smart saves to keep the score at 1-0. First tipping a Jamie McGrath effort from just outside the box over the bar, before then saving from Kieran Bowie whose strike was hit hard.

It would take only seven second half minutes for the Leith men to double their lead, and it would come from the penalty spot. Caught on the wrong side of Klidje, Montano was adjudged to have fouled the Hibs record signing as he made his run into the box, with Ryan Lee hesitating slightly before pointing to the spot and booking Montano. VAR agreed with the call, and McGrath stepped up to send Prior the wrong way, dispatching low to the keeper’s right.

Hibs almost added a third minutes later, a cross from the right was met by the head of Grant Hanley, and with Prior beaten, it took a goal-line clearance from May to keep Livi in the game.

Livi almost got a goal back as the clock ticked over the hour mark, and it was through a familiar sight. Susoho was fouled in the middle of the Hibs half, allowing Robbie Muirhead to step up from all of 35 yards. His effort was strong and forced Raphael Sallinger to tip the ball around the post for a corner.

The Lions were still in the hunt and sub Andrew Shinnie was looking lively since replacing Jeremy Bokila. Receiving the ball from a Winter throw, the former Hibs player turned well and lashed a shot towards goal, which was saved well by Sallinger for a corner.

Despite the resurgence by the substitutes, Hibs put the nail in the Livingston coffin with 11 minutes remaining. A cross from the right-hand side found Junior Hoilett who met the ball ahead of Sylla to the nod into the corner extending the Hibee’s lead to three.

With minutes to go Livi almost pulled a goal back. A May corner from the left was bulleted into the box finding Sylla at the back post, his header was on target but was saved well by Sallinger, who wasn’t to know the whistle would go for a foul by Montano.

The rout was complete by the hosts in the 89th minute. Breaking down the right, the initial cross was cut out well by the Livi backline, however it fell right back to Boyle who cut the ball back to Hoilett to score his second; and probably easiest goal of his career to succumb Livi to defeat in Edinburgh.

Match report: David Hastie

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