By David Reid
Livingston enjoyed a fine bit of success in the capital, beating Hibs 3-0 with a dominant performance.
It was a changed back four for Livi with only goalkeeper Max Stryjek, Jon Guthrie & Nicky Devlin surviving from last week’s win over Kilmarnock, Dillon Barnes covering for Hibs number one Ofir Marciano after he pulled up injured in the warm-up.
Marciano was injured in the warm-up (Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)
The deadlock was broken on nine minutes with the Tony Macaroni side scoring. Scott Robinson caused havoc amongst the Hibs backline after receiving a Marvin Bartley header before getting onto the ball behind Lewis Stevenson and finding Josh Mullin, who thrashed a shot beyond Barnes.
Livingston doubled their lead after 16 minutes with Guthrie smashing the back of the net with a half-volley. The visitors played a short corner with Mullin swinging a fantastic delivery from the right into the danger zone with a clearance from Barnes only going as far as Guthrie, who caught it sweetly on his foot to guide home past the exposed Hibs defence.
Mullin was very intense in his movement and handed Stevenson all kinds of problems on the left. 23 minutes had gone and the winger got past Stevenson again, then gambled to win proceedings against Ryan Porteous and got all kinds of space to have a shot on goal which headed just wide.
Quick turn. (Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Two minutes after the restart, it was 3-0, with Robinson grabbing his second of the game as the hosts backline was penetrated once again. Guthrie played a long ball up the field where Robinson once again got in-behind.
The initial ball didn’t drop directly to him, however, the attacker never gave up and managed to purloin the ball before poking home beyond Barnes. It was a comfortable 3-0 victory for Livingston. Here are the three things we learned.
Livingston momentum
Momentum is a big word in football and Livingston kept their run going with this display at Easter Road. The pace of Robinson & Mullin was too much for the Hibs defence while Ambrose & Guthrie kept Kevin Nisbet, Christian Doidge & Martin Boyle quiet.
Brilliant in defence. (Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)
David Martindale has undoubtedly brought stability for everyone at Livingston and he is making the pressures of management look very easy at the minute. A seventh straight win on the bounce is phenomenal.
Tough Hibs patch
The early exchanges of the season have been going great from a Hibs perspective, however, this is their third defeat in a row, little happening in attack for Jack Ross.
It’s a sticky patch currently for Hibs & it’s back to the drawing board with Celtic next up a week on Monday, where they will need to make quick improvements if they are to avoid a fourth defeat.
Tough patch. (Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Robinson and Mullin key for Livi
Robinson & Mullin played a huge part in another win for the visitors and the former is finding form at the right time with some key games coming up for Martindale’s side.
For Mullin & Robinson to be so dominant against a defensive pairing of Porteous and Paul Hanlon speaks volumes of the talent Martindale has on his hands. Mullin in particular has been a revelation since rejoining the club from Ross County.
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