Hibernian 2-3 Livingston: Easter Road side fall to bottom as visitors compound misery
- Published
Lee Johnson's side are yet to pick up a point after three league games
Hibernian fell to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership and failed to bounce back from their European humbling as they were outmuscled by Livingston at Easter Road.
The hangover from their drubbing at the hands of Aston Villa on Wednesday continued as the visitors flew into an early lead when Jordan Obita could only turn James Penrice's drilled ball into the back of his own net.
Rattled and rudderless, the hosts were seemingly given reprieve when talisman Martin Boyle came alive to glide his way to goal and slam Hibs level.
Their hopes of building on an equaliser were quickly squandered when the home backline switched off to allow Penrice room to roam down the left again and pick out Bruce Anderson for an unchallenged header.
And their misery was compounded when Mo Sangare found himself in behind to slap a sensational volley into the bottom corner and seal a merited away win, despite Josh Campbell's late finish.
From the off, Hibs appeared in a state of shellshock from their Premier League battering midweek. Beside the own goal opener, much of the first half consisted of Livingston powering past their feeble opposition.
Joel Nouble had the opportunity to double his side's advantage when Will Fish fumbled and let the forward through, but substitute goalkeeper Max Boruc - who replaced an injured David Marshall - stayed big to keep him out.
It wouldn't be the last time the Hibs defence was caught in chaos, as Livingston pounced on their indecision to take a comfortable lead that was never truly threatened even after Campbell's consolation.
Player of the match - James Penrice
The left wing-back caused Hibs all kinds of problems on the flank, picking up two assists and keeping Boyle quiet for large spells
Hapless Hibs punished by ruthless and regimented Livi - analysis
In the aftermath of the Villa battering, Johnson and his side were afforded a degree of sympathy, such is the financial disparity between the teams. Back on domestic duty, they can't use the same economic excuses.
If facing Premier League opposition was like being hurled into a F1 race, as Johnson put it, meeting Livingston was a monster truck rally. And Hibs were flattened.
It was France international Lucas Digne who was afforded the freedom of the left flank on Wednesday. Here it was Penrice, who similarly picked off a sleeping home defence with his deliveries into the box.
Hibs' defence has now shipped the most goals in the league, and look chronically low on confidence. That lack of conviction has seemingly seeped through the entire team, whether it be the lack of dynamism in midfield, or the absence of killer instinct when they do reach the final third.
In truth, their two goals paper over the cracks of another lacklustre performance in front of their home crowd.
It's not as if Livingston came to Leith in stellar away form. They hadn't scored in league action on the road since 14 January, yet scoring three here seemed a doddle for David Martindale's men. They were typically robust and regimented, with their forward players offering the real threat.
Martindale's frustration with a lack of funds has only emboldened the siege mentality that has brought so much success to Livingston in recent years.
Off the back of good displays against Aberdeen and Rangers, and earning a place in the quarter finals of the Viaplay Cup, their first league win of the season could be a springboard to another campaign of defying expectation.
What they said
'We will turn it around' - Johnson after Hibs loss
Hibs manager Lee Johnson: "It's not good enough, if I look at the overall start to the domestic campaign. I take full responsibility. I think the main reason is the conceding of easy goals. Again, I take responsibility for that.
"We do look like we have goals in us still but we've been masters of our own downfall with our defending. I think we've shown that we haven't quite got the squad to compete of both fronts yet."
Livingston manager David Martindale: "Huge credit to the players. I think we really, really limited their two wide players, which to me, are their biggest threats in the game.
"If we'd been sitting here with no points, I probably wouldn't have been that downbeat about it because it probably would have been a bit expected. I'm really proud."
What's next?
Hibs must head to Birmingham for another daunting meeting with Villa after their 5-0 Europa Conference League play-off defeat (Thursday, 20:00 BST), before taking the trip to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen (Sunday, 15:00).
Livingston welcome St Mirren to the Tony Macaroni Arena on Saturday (15:00).