Hibernian vs Livingston. Scottish Premiership.
Easter RoadAttendance15,480.
Demetri Mitchell and Chris Cadden scored for Hibs but those goals were cancelled out by visiting centre-backs Ayo Obileye and Jack Fitzwater respectively, before Alan Forrest's winner; watch free match highlights across Sky Sports' digital platforms from 9pm on Saturday
Saturday 29 January 2022 20:31, UK
Alan Forrest struck the winner as Livingston twice came from behind to pull off an impressive 3-2 victory away to Hibernian.
Recent signing Demetri Mitchell and Chris Cadden scored for the hosts but those goals were cancelled out by visiting centre-backs Ayo Obileye and Jack Fitzwater respectively.
The three points took the Lions above St Mirren into eighth in the cinch Premiership, while Shaun Maloney's side missed out on the chance to climb to fourth.
Hibs made four changes to the side that started the goalless draw at Motherwell in midweek as Ryan Porteous, Mitchell, Ewan Henderson and Christian Doidge replaced Joe Newell, Rocky Bushiri, Chris Mueller and Josh Doig.
There were two alterations to the Livingston side that lost 1-0 at Rangers on Wednesday as Joel Nouble and Forrest replaced Andrew Shinnie and Bruce Anderson in attack.
Hibs had the first chance after five minutes when Doidge headed against the post from a Henderson cross.
The hosts went ahead a minute later when Cadden's cross from the right found its way to the back post and Mitchell prodded it in from close range.
It looked like Livingston were going to have a swift opportunity to equalise when Odin Bailey went down in the box as he tried to go around goalkeeper Matt Macey in the eighth minute. Referee Grant Irvine awarded a spot-kick but then changed his mind after speaking with his linesman.
Obileye, who had been ready to take the penalty, got his chance to get on the score sheet in the 19th minute when he beat Macey to a free-kick delivery from Bailey and sent a high looping header into the net.
Hibs were forced into a change in the 22nd minute when defender Paul McGinn went off injured and was replaced by Bushiri.
Livingston had a decent opportunity in the 29th minute when Joel Nouble ran on to a diagonal pass wide on the left and stepped inside Porteous before firing wide of the far post.
The hosts restored their advantage in the 32nd minute when a Cadden cross from the right caught out Lions goalkeeper Max Stryjek and dropped in at the back post.
Livingston equalised again in the 53rd minute when Fitzwater bundled the ball in from close range after Macey could only parry a Forrest effort following a long throw-in from Nicky Devlin.
The Lions got what proved to be the game's decisive goal in the 59th minute when Forrest bent an angled shot past Macey from 10 yards out after some slack play from Josh Campbell.
Livingston boss David Martindale: "We were very good and well worth the three points. To a man everyone was very good, but special mention to Alan - he was brilliant. It says a lot about him, and it also says a lot about where he should be.
"I'll be having a conversation with him in the next seven to 10 days (about a possible contract extension) because I think we're the right club for Alan. I had all the paperwork signed and ready for him to go and he came in and said to me he didn't want to go.
"I think it's been a tough time for him because I don't think he enjoys all the speculation, but he made a big decision and I think that decision paid off today because he was fantastic."
Hibernian boss Shaun Maloney: "We started well, but when you play Livingston there are always going to be actions like the long throw that got them their second goal, so they're never ever out the game," said the Easter Road manager.
"I'm just really disappointed at the way we defended those actions and also with the performance in the second half.
"We lost control of the game and it became really open, and that type of game suits them. Overall the set-plays (from which Livingston scored twice) were the biggest difference in the game."
Hibernian will look to bounce back in the Edinburgh derby next as they host Hearts on Tuesday evening in the Scottish Premiership, while Livingston take on St Johnstone on the same night.
