Hallberg credits Ross as Hibs head to West Lothian on a high

The last time Hibernian faced Livingston, the Easter Road side were 2-0 down at half-time and had to stage a second-half fightback.

The match ended in stalemate, as so many of the Leith side’s matches did at that stage of the season, and the inability to turn those draws into victories forced a change of manager soon afterwards.

But that switch has prompted an upturn in fortunes, with the side leaving the relegation battle well behind them and benefitting from a more positive outlook according to Melker Hallberg.

Greater resolve and belief played a key role in helping them get back on track after successive defeats by Premiership title rivals Celtic and Rangers, sparking a derby victory over Hearts on Boxing Day.

“It was very enjoyable,” said the Swede. “It was a tough game but winning was a very good feeling.”

The defensive midfielder credits new boss Jack Ross with his own improvements, saying he has helped him settle into a holding role that was far from familiar. The manager has spoken about enlisting help in that department to free up the 24-yearold, but Hallberg admits that the more regular inclusion of Vykintas Slivka has already helped him provide more bite in the middle of the park and given him the chance to escape the shackles from time to time.

“I think we have a good connection,” said Hallberg. “He’s maybe a little bit more defensively thinking then me but that helps and Jack has given me some good tips in the few weeks he has been here and that’s helped. I am just trying to adapt and do what’s best for the team.

“We have been having a few good weeks, apart from a couple of tough games against two good teams and I think we have been playing really well since Jack came in and getting good results. It comes with a positive feeling in the group.

“I have been happy playing, trying to do my best, which I have been doing in every game. That’s my job and what I’ve been trying to do. I don’t really know what [Ross] thinks, if it’s good or bad, but hopefully it’s good.

“As I said before, we have a more positive feeling in the group now and it is always good when you have tough games.”

After a bruising derby, Hallberg and his colleagues are well-prepared for the physical contest usually served up by Gary Holt’s Livingston side.

“We have to just get out there and try to match it,” added Hallberg. “I think everyone did well against Hearts. That’s a big team but we stood up and had a good game.”

In the last nine meetings between the clubs, three of the games have ended in draws and, in the other six, no team has won by more than one goal, signalling the closeness of the contests.

Which is why Hibs manager Ross is wary of the trip

to West Lothian and their hosts’ ability to wipe the derby smiles off their faces and send them into the winter break on a downer.

“It’s strange. When I was speaking to Hibs about this job I looked at the fixtures and knew this period – Aberdeen, Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and Livingston – was a tough one,” explained Jack.

“Coming to the end of it we have done OK out of it but we know how difficult Sunday will be as well.

“It’s a different challenge in terms of atmosphere although we will take a good travelling support with us. But the surface is different and there are a lot of different dynamics to the game and the danger is you come from the emotional high of beating Hearts on Thursday, and there’s always a natural down.”

It is something Hibs will guard against. But they will still have to work for anything they get. They seem to have the stomach and the game management to deal with that better these days.