Jacked in The morning
Hibs fans mock their under-fire manager as Livi pile on the misery LIVINGSTON ......... HIBS .......... 0
JACK ROSS should be riding a cup final high in the week heading into Hibs’ trip to Hampden.
Instead the Easter Road boss hit a horror low in his Easter Road reign as he faced up to chants of “sacked in the morning” from his own fans as Hibs’ dismal run stretched to a seventh defeat in nine games.
That eventuality might not be on the cards. But the boos that rang out from the away end at the Tony Macaroni Arena told the story of a side on a desperate run heading into the Premier Sports Cup Final in just 10 days’ time.
Jack McMillan’s first-half strike proved the difference on a night when Martin Boyle blazed a penalty over the bar. But Livi were well worthy of their win after outrunning and outfighting Hibs, who finished with just nine players on the park.
On a night when Paul Hanlon drew level with Eddie Turnbull in sixth place in Hibs’ all-time record appearances charts on 487 his side failed miserably in their quest for a top-six spot.
His misery was compounded when he was red-carded for a second booking in the closing stages – following Paul McGinn up the tunnel after he too had picked up two cautions.
To add to Ross’s concerns Ryan Porteous limped off in the final 10 minutes with a muscle problem.
Not that Livi or David Martindale will be caring as they brought their own poor run of six games without a win to an end. He had accused referees of draining the emotion out of Scottish football this week.
But it’s an accusation he could never throw at his Lions as they tore into Hibs with a hunger and passion. McMillan’s strike – his first in three years – bagged three huge points to lift them up to ninth. And it was the least they deserved.
Martindale stuck with the same starting XI that battered Hearts for 45 minutes on Sunday only to lose to Liam Boyce’s second-half goal.
Hibs made one change to the side that drew 1-1 with Well as Chris Cadden dropped out after picking up a knock with Jamie Murphy returning in his place.
The winger and Josh Doig combined on the left to force a corner in 10 minutes which almost brought the opener.
Joe Newell’s outswinger was missed by Max Stryjek and sent
back across goal by Kevin Nisbet to Hanlon but the skipper’s header was nodded off the line by Shinnie.
Moments later Nisbet got his head to a cross but the frontman’s effort was easily held by Stryjek.
It was a positive start from Hibs but against the run of play they found themselves a goal down.
Hanlon failed to cut out a long ball down the left to Shinnie in 16 minutes and McMillan burst into the box from midfield unmarked to fire the striker’s cross past Matt Macey from 10 yards.
Yet within 60 seconds Hibs should have been level, although it would have done nothing for Martindale’s already-strained relations with the officials had Boyle converted.
He forced his way into the box and hit the deck as he picked up pace going past Tom Parkes. Ref Don Robertson had no hesitation in pointing to the spot despite there looking to be minimal contact at best. The home fans were incensed but their jeers soon turned to cheers as Boyle fired wildly over.
Hibs appealed for another penalty when Josh Campbell went down under a challenge from Jack Fitzwater but Robertson played on.
For all their attacking threat Hibs were looking shaky at the back. Livi went close to a second when the excellent Stephane Omeonga’s cross was volleyed just wide by Craig Sibbald.
Nisbet then saw a 30-yard free-kick whistle just wide.
Ross rolled the dice at the break, Christian Doidge and Scott Allan on for Murphy and Campbell as he switched to a front two. Omeonga’s persistence won the ball to tee up Nicky Devlin whose cross forced a clearance from Allan.
Hibs were at sixes and sevens and Alan Forrest hared on to a loose Porteous back pass with Hanlon having to boot clear.
The visitors should have been level in 58 minutes when Boyle’s cutback found Allan unmarked but his effort flew over the bar.
Hanlon was lucky to escape a red when he wiped out at Shinnie. He was booked and Forrest fired the free-kick into the wall.
Livi sub Cristian Montano was inches away from a goal when he lifted the ball over Macey only for his effort to run just wide.
Martindale was incensed when Montano was dragged to the ground by McGinn but Robertson waved away penalty appeals. It was 100mph stuff heading into the final 10 minutes and Boyle saw an angled drive held by Stryjek. But the seriousness of Hibs’ situation hit home when the chants rang out from the away support directly across from Ross’s dugout. As if that wasn’t bad enough Porteous limped off before his side were reduced to 10 men in the 85th minute when McGinn picked up a second booking for pulling back Montano. Moments later Forrest saw a chance saved by Macey. And Hibs horror evening was compounded when Hanlon landed a second yellow in 90 minutes for a foul on Forrest.