Hibernian 3-0 Livingston: Nick Montgomery praises 'professional' hosts
- Published
Adam Le Fondre finished a delightful Hibernian move to put the hosts 3-0 ahead midway through the first half
Hibernian head coach Nick Montgomery hailed a "professional performance" as Scottish Premiership bottom club Livingston were shellacked at Easter Road.
The victory left Livingston 10 points adrift, while propelling Hibs into the top six, two clear of Dundee.
Hibs rattled in three first-half goals through Jordan Obita, Myziane Maolida and Adam Le Fondre and never looked flustered defensively.
"We were expected to beat a Livingston team who gave Celtic a great game last week and are fighting for their lives," Montgomery told BBC Scotland.
"In the first half we played some great stuff, the composure in and around the box. It was a really professional performance.
"It puts us into the international break on the back of six league games undefeated. We want to carry on this momentum."
Hibs weaved some terrific football, each goal in the first-half blitz the product of crisp passing, fleet movement and ruthless execution.
The opener arrived when Nectarios Triantis found Le Fondre peeling off to the right, and the veteran's teasing ball was scooped in by the onrushing Obita.
The second was a beauty, green-and-white artistry daubed across the Leith paddock. Joe Newell squared for Maolida on the edge of the box, who stabbed it to the feet of Le Fondre.
The striker knocked the ball back to Newell, and the captain swiftly slid in Elie Youan. The Frenchman squared from the right, and Maolida swept clinically home first time, his sixth goal since arriving in January.
The quality of Hibs' football did not relent. Le Fondre could not dig a cushioned Chris Cadden header out of his feet to wallop home, but the hosts destroyed Livingston with a blistering counter from their own box.
Maolida carried the ball clear before switching play to the galloping Cadden. The fit-again right-back seared inside, and sent a piercing pass between two defenders for Youan.
A first-time cross, a textbook sliding finish from Le Fondre. Game, effectively, over.
Le Fondre nearly added a fourth before the break, his smashed effort beaten clear by Shamal George from a tight angle.
Ayo Obileye's header, sailing harmlessly onto the roof of the Hibs net, was the only discernible sign of an attacking Livingston pulse.
The flatlining basement dwellers stirred after the break to little effect. With only 20 league goals scored all season, a comeback was never likely.
Mo Sangare drew a decent stop from Jojo Wollacott, brought on at half-time for David Marshall in the home goal, and Tete Yengi bent high over the top.
At the other end, Hibs continued to menace. Emiliano Marcondes laced an industrious performance with flashes of trademark class. Maolida couldn't prod past the onrushing George, Cadden had a shot blocked from the right, and George leapt brilliantly to his left to tip clear a Le Fondre flick.
Ross County's impressive win over high-flying Hearts heaped yet more misery upon David Martindale's beleaguered side, who have a mountain to scale if they are to escape automatic relegation.
In the race to make the top six - and beat the drop - goal difference could be precious. Hibs burnished theirs - it is now six superior to the tally of Dundee, who host Rangers on Sunday - while inflicting another blow to Livingston's, their grim -32 return nine worse than County's.
Hibs, at last, melded their attacking swagger to defensive resilience. For Martindale's labouring troops, these are bleak days as they perch on the precipice.
Man of the match - Adam Le Fondre
Even at 37, he continues to show his undying class. The striker is pin-sharp, his movement, direction and finishing terrific. Now free from injury, he has a big part to play as Hibs chase a top-six berth
Livingston sinking without a trace - analysis
This was the showing Hibs fans have craved.
Since Nick Montgomery's arrival, they have produced, in patches, swagger on the ball and a slew of eye-catching goals. Their propensity to point the gun at their foot and empty both barrels has been their undoing. Maddening concessions, leads blown and blown again.
At last, they dished out a pasting. Three fabulous goals, carved in the mould of Montgomery's attacking blueprint, and no sign of the flakiness at the back which has dogged them.
Livingston had battled a sickness bug in midweek which limited their training time and player availability. Perhaps the lingering effects of the illness contributed to a meek display, toothless in attack and shambolic in defence.
They have performed well in fits and starts, and spilled points through agonising late goals. But there was almost nothing for Martindale to hang his hat on here, save the second-half clean sheet.
He has eight games left to preserve the top-flight status so very hard won and so stubbornly clung to.
What they said
Hibernian manager Nick Montgomery: "Adam Le Fondre was outstanding, his movement, he led the line really well. It's hard not to give credit to everyone."
Livingston manager David Martindale: "It's very hard to say your application was right when you're two goals down with eight minutes played. Everything becomes very difficult at that point.
"Individual efforts in the wide areas, a lack of focus, aggression, physicality, aggression.
"Four players should be returning for the next game - Scott Pittman, James Penrice, Dan MacKay and Andy Shinnie. To get those four back should stand us in good stead."
What's next?
After the international break, Hibs travel to Rangers on 30 March (15:00 GMT), while Livingston host Celtic a day later (12:00).