Hibees hat-trick hero Nisbet sets double-figure target as he makes Premiership mark

Kevin Nisbet opened his Hibernian account with a hat-trick against Livingston on Saturday and set his sights on reaching at least double figures for the season.

The former Dunfermline striker scored twice in the first half of the 4-1 Scottish Premiership success from Daryl Horgan crosses and then added a late third from the penalty spot.

And he made sure he got the match ball afterwards as a memento, adding: “It’s brilliant for me to get that hat-trick.

“To get the first goal is vital in the first couple of games at a new club. I’ve got three now and it’s a good marker to go on for the rest of the season.

“It’s just about hitting 10 and then go from there and get as many goals as I can. I actually ran out to see where the ball was after the game and got most of the boys to sign it for me.”

Nisbet insisted there was no chance of anyone else taking the spot-kick after Joe Newell was fouled by Marvin Bartley two minutes from time.

He added: “Nobody else was getting the ball to take the penalty. When you’re on a hat-trick, you need to take the penalty. And I thought I stepped up confidently to get it.

“The most important thing was the three points. It’s a hard place to come to, on a hot day when the pitch is a bit dry.”

Christian Doidge got the other Hibs goal and Nisbet hopes the pair can enjoy a fruitful partnership in attack this season.

He is convinced his 23-year-old strike partner – and the rest of the Easter Road side – can now travel to Tannadice tomorrow to take on Dundee United full of belief.

He said: “I think we performed well together and I’m really happy for Kevin to get that hat-trick.

“He’d been doing that kind of thing all week in training, looking really sharp. It’s a fantastic achievement at any level, getting a hat-trick, and I’m so pleased for him.

“With Martin (Boyle) getting a couple last week, we’ve got plenty of threat – and there are even more goals in the team, I think.

“Obviously I’ve come off quite a good year goal scoring-wise (18 last season). I’m at the same club, comfortable with all the lads.

“I’m trying my hardest to build on what I did last year. Every day in training, the players are learning to know what runs I’m making.

“Maybe at the start they didn’t know that. And obviously you lose a bit of form; it can be hard as a striker when you go to a new club and the goals won’t come.

“That’s why I’m so delighted for Kevin to hit the ground running in such style. Hopefully there are many more goals to come from him.”

In contrast, the only bright spot for Livingston was a penalty scored by Lyndon Dykes when they were already three goals down.

Former Dundee United striker Billy McKay’s late winner made it two wins from two for Ross County as they claimed a 1-0 triumph at Hamilton.

Stuart Kettlewell’s men got their Scottish Premiership campaign off to the perfect start with a narrow victory over Motherwell on Monday night.

And they backed it up at the Foys Stadium, with McKay finally breaking Accies’ stubborn resistance with his 75th-minute strike to put the Staggies joint top of the table.

County boss Stuart Kettlewell said: “Billy is just such an intelligent player. You look at how old he is and maybe people are asking if he’s losing his legs.

“But I really don’t think he is. You see him over the first five or 10 yards and he’s still electric because of the speed of his brain.”

Picture: SNS. Kevin Nisbet completes his hat-trick from the penalty spot.