Hibs 0 Livingston 0
It proved to be a frustrating afternoon as we were held to a goalless draw at home by William Hill Premiership strugglers, Livingston.
Despite a dominant performance were had to settle for a share of the spoils as Lady Luck deserted us. Jamie McGrath twice struck the frame of the Livingston goal and we were guilty of passing up a series of gilt-edged opportunities during the 90 minutes.
There was late drama too when we were awarded an 89th minute penalty kick, only for referee Lloyd Wilson to change his mind following a VAR call to the monitor. Livingston – in search of their first win since August – defended stoutly throughout and will be happy with their afternoon’s work.
David Gray made just one change to his side following our 3-3 draw with Dundee last time out. Ante Šuto came into the starting XI at the expense of Dane Scarlett, who dropped to the bench; while Livi boss Marvin Bartley made five changes to his side with Cristian Montano, Joel Nouble, Stevie May, Cammy Kerr and Mo Sylla all starting.
We started in our usual 3-4-1-2 formation and enjoyed a lot of the ball in the opening exchanges without finding the clinical final ball to really test the visitors. Livi, lining up in a 3-5-2 formation, flooded the midfield to close down the spaces and were quick to spring an attack if the opportunity arose.
Indeed, it was the visitors that had the first opportunity of the afternoon when May stung the palms of Raphael Sallinger with a powerful effort before Rocky Bushiri hooked clear the loose ball.
Our first effort of note came from a Šuto snapshot following a corner kick however Jerome Prior saved comfortably at his near post.
Thereafter it was virtually one-way traffic and Nicky Cadden in particular proving to be very influential in our attacks.
On 19 minutes his cross from the left took a deflection before flashing across goal and zipping just wide of the far post with Prior looking on concerned.
Then, Nicky’s corner fell to McGrath and although his first attempt was blocked, his second rattled the crossbar.
We kept up the pressure and from Nicky Cadden’s whipped delivery from the left, Owen Elding’s glancing header dropped just wide of the far post.
Warren O’Hora likewise went close with a header before Prior was forced into a save to thwart Šuto’s shot-on-the-turn after Felix Passlack had robbed Sylla of possession in the middle of the park.
With the interval looming, Prior almost gifted us the lead when he made a meal of dealing with a routine shot from McGrath that the keeper allowed to squirm under his body before only just recovering to prevent it crossing the line.
Yet, despite all our dominance, Livingston almost could’ve snatched an opening goal on the cusp of half-time when Montano found Nouble with a cut back and Sallinger had to throw himself to his left to push away the striker’s angled drive.
There were no changes at the break and just like they had in the first half, Livingston created the first opportunity of the second period.
A slip by Dan Barlaser in the middle of the park allowed the visitors to counter us two-on-one; fortunately, Nouble’s pass to Macaulay Tait was undercooked, forcing him to take a heavy touch that allowed Rocky to clear the danger.
We – more specifically McGrath – would strike the woodwork for a second time this afternoon when the midfielder latched onto Nicky Cadden’s low cross and from 16 yards his low shot crashed back off the far post.
Both teams made changes on the hour mark with Martin Boyle and Dane Scarlett introduced for us, whilst Barrie McKay, Babacar Fati and Robbie Muirhead came on for the visitors. Further changes followed for both teams however they did little to inject new life into a fairly drab second half.
With 11 minutes remaining a cross from Scarlett was completely missed by Danny Wilson and struck Nicky Cadden on the side of the head as the wide-man was caught unprepared for the ball to reach him.
Livingston substitute Muirhead was denied by a fine save from Sallinger as we entered the final ten minutes – the stop being missed by the match officials but not Livi boss Bartley, who was cautioned for protesting the decision not to award his side a corner kick.
Moments later, we squandered another big opportunity when Nicky Cadden’s cross was volleyed goalward by Scarlett, forcing Prior into a huge save but from the rebound Campbell blasted high over the crossbar.
In the final minute of normal time we were awarded a penalty kick when Boyle went down under Sylla’s challenge - only for VAR to step in and ask for the referee to review his decision, which he duly did after watching back the challenge on the monitor.
We peppered the Livingston box with crosses in the five added minutes however we were unable to create anything meaningful as the visitors hauled everyone back into their box and defended for their lives.