SPECIAL ONES

Martindale hails Livi squad after their classy win over Hibs

DAVID MARTINDALE mastering the manager of Hibernian is nothing terribly ground-breaking. This, after all, was a fourth win over four different Easter Road bosses in eight months.

Lee Johnson met the same fate as Jack Ross, Shaun Maloney and David Gray.

Yet Martindale stressed this Livingston victory over Hibs could, for once, be of far more significance to his club than the career prospects of the man in the opposition hotseat.

Martindale watched Livingston’s intensity in midfield and class in Joel Nouble up top punish their casual visitors in a dominant first half.

They then successfully rode an early second-period storm from a transformed Hibs boosted by Martin Boyle’s introduction.

And after a water break calmed an increasingly bad-tempered affair, he saw his savvy side prove the more composed late on.

A home winner was likely to arrive from one of their cute counter attacks or a set-piece.

It was the latter, with four minutes left, Ayo Obileye towering to nod Sean Kelly’s free-kick down and past David Marshall.

Martindale was kind to point out that Hibs have scope for improvement in the months to come.

Yet everything about this victory screamed that Livingston are a top-six force already.

‘I think there’s something special happening at Livingston with this group,’ insisted Martindale.

‘It’s a bit like the year we had Lyndon Dykes up front and finished fifth when Covid got it closed early.

‘I think we would have finished higher that season and maybe got into Europe. We have a special squad of players at the club just now.

‘It just goes to show that possession doesn’t win you games of football. It’s shots on target and the ball lying in the back of the net. That’s down to the players and staff.’

That’s two wins since being edged out by Rangers on opening day, when striker Nouble announced himself a player to watch.

You now can’t take your eyes off him. He was too much for Paul Hanlon to handle as the stalwart defender returned for a first outing of the season on the back a handful of training sessions.

Rocky Bushiri’s injury forced Johnson’s hand but there are few defenders relishing a match-up with Nouble.

A slow-starting Hibs, who took until stoppage time to score at St Johnstone and against Hearts, were perfect fodder for Martindale’s manic workers.

Scott Pittman levelled Keaghan Jacobs on a club-record 309 appearances. His trademark nuisance value spread throughout Livingston ranks, making Hibs uncomfortable.

In six minutes, Jason Holt snapped at the heels of Nohan Kenneh to pinch the ball and sent Nouble barrelling down on goal.

He skilfully slipped past Hanlon before dinking a delightful finish over Marshall as the keeper raced off his line.

Elias Melkersen’s ankle injury forced Johnson into a change, with Christian Doidge joining Elie Youan up top and the ineffective Jair Tavares switching to the right.

Doidge’s header into the welcoming arms of Shamal George was the solitary first-half threat to Livingston.

Were it not for Marshall, Hibs would’ve been two down at the interval.

Nouble nipped in ahead of Chris Cadden before gliding past Ryan Porteous and firing a left-foot drive across goal. The ex-Scotland keeper excelled with his adjustment to save.

Emergency man Boyle was called for at the break, Hibs were in a different mood and found themselves level within five minutes.

Hanlon’s header from Joe Newell’s deliver ousted wide by George but the ball was forced back into the goalmouth by Youan and Kenneh headed over the line.

It was enthralling stuff for the remainder as tempers became frayed in the heat. Water breaks were required just as much to cool those on the touchline as hydrate the players.

A superb last-ditch Jack Fitzwater lunge denied Boyle, who then courted controversy by tumbling under pressure from Stephane Omeonga.

Ref Craig Napier showed yellow cards to both managers after their exchange of views on the incident.

Livingston regrouped and took control again. Nouble fired inches over then another nifty run set up substitute Bruce Anderson. Marshall spread himself to produce a stunning point-blank block.

Marijan Cabraja’s wiping out of Nicky Devlin drew more ire from the home bench, with the Croatian on a booking.

However, it was soon forgotten as they profited much more from the free-kick award than a personnel advantage.

With Kyle McClelland on for Hanlon, Obileye bossed the back post to head home the winner.

The five minutes of added time were fraught for Livingston. Youan’s swerving strike from 22 yards tested the reaction of George.

Boyle then presented sub Momodou Bojang with a cutback gift. But the Gambian, in his first minute of Premiership action, skied his attempt from eight yards.

‘I think you’ll see a different Hibs in the weeks to come — they’re in a transitional phase,’ noted Martindale.

‘They’ll get used to Lee’s way of playing and will be up there because he’s a very good manager and Hibs have the finances to make sure they’re at the top end.

‘We have to squeeze every ounce of aggression, hard work and talent out of everyone because we don’t have the luxury of buying a game-changer. We need to have 16 game-changers.’ LIVINGSTON (4-3-2-1): George; Devlin (Brandon 89), Fitzwater, Obileye, Montano (Cancar 65); Kelly, Holt, Omeonga; Pittman, Shinnie (Anderson 76); Nouble Subs (not used): Konovalov, Bahamboula, Mullin, Bitsindou, Longridge, Goncalves.

Booked: Montano. HIBERNIAN (4-2-3-1): Marshall; Cadden, Porteous, Hanlon (McClelland 83), Cabraja; Newell, Kenneh (Bojang 90); Melkersen (Doidge 22), Henderson (Doyle-Hayes 83), Tavares (Boyle 46); Youan.

Subs (not used): Dabrowski, Miller, McGregor, MacIntyre. Booked: Boyle, Cabraja.

Referee: Craig Napier. Attendance: 3854.