WE’RE PLAYING NOT BAD FOR HAMMER-THROWERS
Holt has a dig at critics as buoyant Livvy end decade on a high
AS Livingston signed off for 2019 with a victory over Hibernian, Gary Holt was able to reflect on a remarkable journey.
A decade that had begun with the Lions languishing in the old Third Division now ends with them sitting proudly in the top half of the Premiership.
Two second-half goals from prolific defender Jon Guthrie, who took his festive tally to an impressive four in his past five games, were enough to settle this contest.
And the three points saw them leapfrog their visitors on goal difference to sit a lofty fifth in the table.
Nobody could have predicted this at the start of 2010 as Livingston, then under Gary Bollan’s management, were drawing 1-1 with Stranraer at Stair Park in the bottom tier of the senior game.
Current boss Holt believes it is one in the eye for critics of his side’s physical style.
‘We’re playing not bad for hammer-throwers,’ he smiled.
‘We knew it would be a tough game, especially after Hibs beat Hearts on Boxing Day. We wanted to make it uncomfortable and get at them — and we did that well.’
Hailing match-winner Guthrie, he added: ‘Jon has been brilliant, on and off the park, since he’s come to this club. We have people like Jon who will get hurt for you in both boxes. There are no big-time Charlies here.
‘But we are still a work in progress. I said last year we were toddlers learning to crawl at this level and we are now taking baby steps.’
Holt made two changes to the side who lost 2-1 at Aberdeen. Out went Aaron Taylor-Sinclair and Aymen Souda and in came Jack McMillan and Keaghan Jacobs.
It was no surprise to see Jack Ross go with the same starting
XI who had convincingly beaten Hearts 2-0 at Tynecastle.
The Hibs boss once again utilised Martin Boyle up front and the pacy converted winger could have opened the scoring early on.
Running on to a long punt from goalkeeper Ofir Marciano, he showed the perfect first touch to kill the ball stone dead as it dropped out of the sky.
But his second touch was a tame shot straight at Livingston goalkeeper Matija Sarkic.
At the other end, Hibs defender Paul Hanlon had to clear the danger after Marciano had spilled a dangerous cross from Steve Lawson.
In scoring a late consolation at Pittodrie, Lyndon Dykes had become the first Livingston player to hit double figures in the top flight since Derek Lilley notched 18 in the League Cup-winning season of 2003-04.
The ex-Queen of the South forward showed how far he is developing as a striker at this level by giving the Hibs defence an awkward opening 45 minutes.
There had been few clear-cut chances but Christian Doidge looked to change that when he spun Lawson on the halfway line.
The Livvy defender hauled the forward back, earning the first yellow card of the game.
Then Lawson forced a fine save from Marciano with a powerful effort from outside the box before Livingston were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area after Scott Allan had pulled back Jacobs.
Steven Lawless sent a tame effort into the wall before Lawson picked up the loose ball and found Craig Sibbald in the box. But his flick towards goal was easily gathered by Marciano.
Doidge then raced clear on goal at the other end after good interplay with Daryl Horgan.
The Welsh striker sent a fierce, rising drive over the crossbar and the sides went in level at half-time.
An even first half had seen both teams cancel each other out, with Holt playing a 4-4-2 with a diamond in midfield to mirror the formation favoured by Ross. But
Livingston dominated the second half after Melker Hallberg sent a wild shot over the bar. First, home defender Ricki Lamie headed tamely at Marciano after yet another good delivery by Lawson from the right flank. As Livvy tried to cap their period of pressure with a goal, Sibbald saw an 18-yard effort deflected narrowly wide.
The home side finally got the goal their dominance deserved when Sibbald’s corner was forced home from close range by Guthrie after a good old-fashioned stramash in the six-yard box. The ball may even have taken a last touch off a Hibs defender.
In a bid to inject fresh life into his listless side, Ross brought on forwards Oli Shaw and Fraser Murray for Allan and Horgan.
But when Lawson fired in yet another terrific cross, Guthrie sent a firm header beyond Marciano to wrap up the points.
It could have been three but Darren McGregor showed good awareness to get in before Dykes as the striker looked to tap a Scott Pittman cross into the empty net. The big Hibs defender watched anxiously as his clearance bounced off the post before going out for a corner.
The match ended with Holt giving the Livingston fans the wave they had been chanting for since the second goal.
By contrast, a good deal of the large travelling support were already gone by the final whistle, the euphoria of their recent derby victory now evaporated.
Ross has had a good start at Hibs but this poor showing at Livingston will give him food for thought ahead of the January transfer window.
LIVINGSTON (4-4-2): Sarkic 7; Lawson 8, Guthrie 8, Lamie 7, McMillan 7; Bartley 7, Jacobs 7, Pittman 7, Sibbald 7 (Crawford 65); Lawless 7 (Erskine 90), Dykes 7 (Souda 90). Subs not used: Stewart, Tiffoney, Odoffin. Booked: Lawson, Bartley. HIBERNIAN (4-4-2): Marciano 6; Naismith 6, McGregor 6, Hanlon 6, Stevenson 6; Slivka 5, Hallberg 6 (Newell 76), Allan 5 (Shaw 67), Horgan 5 (Murray 67); Boyle 6, Doidge 6. Subs not used: Bogdan, Gray, Whittaker, James. Booked: Slivka. Man of the match: Jon Guthrie. Referee: Euan Anderson. Attendance: 4,902.