Lennon threatens to sell misfiring Florian after ‘sloppy’ spot-kick
HIBS 1 Porteous (80) LIVINGSTON 1 Hardie (56)
Neil Lennon launched a scathing attack on Florian Kamberi following his costly missed penalty against Livingston, warning the “sloppy” striker that he is willing to replace him in the January transfer window.
Kamberi, 23, produced a woeful spot-kick against the Lions, with Liam Kelly plunging to his right to make a simple stop.
That kept the score at 1-0 to Livi after Ryan Hardie had given the visitors a first-half advantage and, although Ryan Porteous ultimately salvaged a point for the below-par Hibees, it did little to appease Lennon’s anger.
The Northern Irishman insists he has finally lost patience in the languid attacker, who has just one goal from his last nine outings, and is mulling a repeat of last season’s winter transfer window, when he replaced Simon Murray and Anthony Stokes with Kamberi and Jamie Maclaren. “I can always change it the way I did last season when I got rid of Stokes and Murray and brought in other players,” said the Hibs boss. “Some of the players need to have a good look at themselves.
“The Livingston goal comes from Kamberi giving the ball away and falling on his back side. He did that a lot. I don’t know if it’s a confidence thing or a lack of application but he’s nowhere near as hungry as he was last season.
“He’s not working hard enough and the point isn’t hitting home. The penalty is sloppy. He hasn’t been taking penalties like that and his all-round game at the minute is just not there.
“We maybe need to look at other avenues to get goals.
“It’s his all round work-rate which isn’t there. (Dolly) Menga does it for Livingston. (Alfredo) Morelos does it for Rangers. If you aren’t scoring goals then you need to bring something else to the team.
“If you aren’t doing that then we are a man down and that’s not acceptable any more.”
Despite what would become a hugely frustrating 90 minutes for Lennon, Livi had their impressive goalkeeper Kelly to thank for keeping the scoreline blank in the opening exchanges as Martin Boyle latched on to a superb Emerson Hyndman pass and hared clear on goal. The young custodian produced a sensational low, fingertip save.
Livi were not without attacking endeavour of their own. A waspish dash down the right flank by Hardie culminated with the on-loan Rangers attacker finding Menga with the cut-back. However, his team-mate could only skew his shot over the bar.
Efforts from Scott Pittman and Nicky Cadden underlined the visitors’ danger prior to the interval. But, rather than prompt a response from the Hibees, Livingston claimed the lead that their forays forward had threatened.
Hardie latched on to a lofted Declan Gallagher pass and dinked a delightful finish beyond Bodgan.
Hibs, out of sorts in the final third, were gifted a wonderful opportunity to restore parity when Boyle was scythed down in the box by Alan Lithgow, prompting referee Greg Aitken to point to the spot.
However, Kamberi fluffed his lines as Kelly plunged to his right-hand side to save the striker’s tame, telegraphed effort.
It was left to Porteous to rescue a point as the defender – playing through the pain barrier after a knock in the first period – converted a fine cross from Daryl Horgan.