Hibs win at a canter as they put wounded Lions to the sword
HIBS 2 Nisbet (51), Boyle (89) LIVINGSTON 0
Livingston manager Davie Martindale has revealed how striker Bruce Anderson was last night being checked over in hospital after passing out on the Easter Road pitch following a diabetic seizure.
Anderson was able to walk off when he was replaced by Jack Hamilton just before half-time in yesterday’s 2-0 defeat at Hibs.
However, Martindale disclosed the extent of the health issue affecting the 22-year-old after the game.
“Wee Bruce is away to hospital after he took a diabetic fit on the park and passed out. We don’t have our fires to fight just now. He just said he passed out.”
Martindale revealed he had struggled to field a full team as he was without 11 players for the clash.
During the game Craig Sibbald was also forced off with a hip problem, while defender Jack Fitzwater could not finish the game due to a sickness bug – which also affected goalkeeper Max Stryjek.
Martindale, whose side had been in the game at half-time before losing second-half goals to Kevin Nisbet and Martin Boyle, said: “I feel sorry for the boys.
“Max Stryjek and Jack Fitzwater were spewing up in the toilets at half-time.
“Fitzy went back out but that’s why we had to take him off.
“I’m not trying to make excuses but we had 11 players out today.
“And I had four on the bench who couldn’t go on, they were just making up the numbers.
“Ben Williamson was pulled out of the squad by Rangers because of a post Covid blood test.
“He was in the starting XI instead of Sibbs, but their doctors advised us not to play him as the troponin levels in his blood were not what they should have been.”
The home team welcomed back their biggest crowd – 13,431 – since the start of the pandemic, but there was little for fans of either side to get excited about after the players
trudged in at half-time having failed to register a single effort on target.
Hibs looked lively in bursts but these were few and far between.
Boyle should have done better on one occasion when he sliced a drive wide after dispossessing the dithering Fitzwater.
Nisbet then had a shot deflected over by Fitzwater after connecting with a Boyle cross.
However, Hibs were celebrating the breakthrough six minutes after the restart with a well-taken goal by Nisbet.
The forward took in Paul Mcginn’s pass before easily spinning away from Kelly, who had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds after replacing the unwell Fitzwater, and planting a low left-footed drive across Stryjek.
Livingston never looked like getting themselves back into the game and Hibs added gloss to the scoreline in the last minute when Boyle combined with substitute Scott Allan inside the box before lifting the ball over Stryjek.
On a positive note for Martindale, the Lions boss is looking forward to welcoming Stephane Omeonga after the former Hibs midfielder signed a two-year deal with Livingston on Saturday.
The ex-belgium under-21 internationalist had been a free agent after departing Pescara following the Italian club’s relegation to Serie C but red tape could hold up his arrival.
Martindale, whose team remain without a point, added: “The work permit is going to be difficult for Omeonga.
“As a country, we’re not set up for Brexit properly yet. It could be four weeks before we see him on the pitch.