Livingston became just the second side to stop Hibs scoring this season as they claimed what could be a precious point in their fight for survival on a bitterly cold evening at The Tony Macaroni Arena.

Only league leaders Rangers had enjoyed a shutout against the Hibees season and there was much to applaud about Livi’s defensive efforts as the ominous front pairing of Jason Cummings and Anthony Stokes were kept relatively quiet.

In difficult playing conditions David Hopkin’s side frustrated Hibernian for long spells as the visitors struggled to break down the Lions’ resolute defence and perhaps should have taken the points after passing up two golden chances late on.

Jordan White struck the crossbar with a curling effort before Gary Glen just failed to get on the end of a Charlie Telfer cross as the game finished in stalemate.

Hopkin made four changes to his side from the defeat at Dumbarton as Jackson Longridge, Ben Gordon, Mark Fotheringham and debutant Josh Mullin came in for Darren Cole, Declan Gallagher, Glen and the ineligible Sam Stanton.

The much-changed made a vibrant start and went close inside the first minute when Scott Pittman’s delivery flashed across the face of goal before being cleared by Paul Hanlon.

From a corner kick moments later Mullin headed straight at Mark Oxley as Hibernian struggled to adapt to the terrible playing conditions.

Slowly Alan Stubbs’ men began to assert themselves and on 15 minutes a Dagnall volley on the angle forced Marc McCallum into his first save of the evening.

Dagnall had an even better opportunity soon after when Lewis Stevenson’s cross put him through on goal, however a heavy touch allowed the nearest Livi defender to get a boot in and hook the ball clear.

The opportunities kept coming for Hibernian with McCallum saving a Darren McGregor effort from distance before Dagnall headed wide from John McGinn’s cross from the left.

Livingston were defending deep and in numbers and the visitors were struggling to break them down. As a disappointing first half came to a close Hibernian saw a Stokes shot deflected wide before a Stevenson cross was headed down to Cummings from Dagnall only to get stuck between his feet allowing McCallum to save bravely.

Half-time: Livingston 0-0 Hibernian

Hibs continued to dominate after the break and went agonisingly close to a breakthrough when Hanlon’s deep cross to the back post found David Gray, his header beat McCallum only to be hooked off the line by Ben Gordon.

McGinn then had a shot from the edge of the area that was inches wide of the far post before Stokes and McGinn flashed crosses along the face of goal that were just beyond Cummings.

Hibs’ wastefulness in front of goal almost came back to bite them when Oxley failed to collect a cross, Livingston substitute Gary Glen saw his shot blocked by the goalkeeper before White’s follow-up effort crashed back off the crossbar.

Glen then had a golden chance of his own to win it as Charlie Telfer whipped in a terrific cross which needed only a touch to find the net but the ex-Hearts couldn’t stretch enough to turn the ball home.

There was a late chance for Stevenson, the full-back cutting inside from the left flank but his shot was away from goal.

The final opportunity to turn one point into three came on the second minute of time added on when McGregor’s shot through a ruck of bodies was comfortably saved by McCallum.

Full-time: Livingston 0-0 Hibernian

Livingston: McCallum, Kakay, Longridge (Glen 65), Gordon, Halkett, Cole, Pittman, Fotheringham, Mullin (Telfer 74), White, Buchanan (Currie 80)
Subs not used: Neill, Sheerin, Knox, Quinn

Hibernian: Oxley, Gray, Hanlon, Stevenson, McGregor, Henderson (Boyle 86), Bartley, McGinn, Stokes, Dagnall (Thomson 65), Cummings (Keatings 86)
Subs not used: Fontaine, Carmichael, Gunnarsson, Virtanen

Referee: Alan Muir
Att: 2,663
Match report: Andy Crawford

Footage courtesy of SPFL

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