The evacuation before kick-off at the Tony Macaroni Arena turned out to be a false alarm.
But David Martindale has warned Premiership rivals the threat from his Lions is very real. The West Lothian men were at it again yesterday, humbling Hibs yet again in a dramatic 2-1 win that had a bit of everything. Ayo Odileye thumped home a header in the last minute to secure the points after Nohan Kenneh had cancelled out Joel Nouble’s early opener for the home side.
Livi were worth their win after a barnstorming first 45 minute, a resilient 20 minute second half spell when Hibs turned up and then a grandstand finish. Martindale reckons there’s even more to come from his side after they can even surpass the Lyndon Dykes inspired top six finishers of two years ago. He said: “I think there’s something special happening at Livingston with this group of players.”
Martindale’s Lions certainly have a taste for Hibs managers as the boss said: “I was just told a stat that we’ve beaten Hibs four times now under four different managers. You had Jack Ross, Shaun Maloney, David Gray and now Lee.
“That’s a great stat for Livi.”
Martindale was beaming at the end but it was a fairly bad-tempered encounter. A second half flashpoint earned both managers yellow cards after sub Martin Boyle took a tumble in the box The Livi gaffer said: “Our analyst was watching it in real time and he told us it was a dive, so that’s why we had that reaction from our bench.
“Martin has won a few penalties against us over the years but I don’t think he’s a cheat. He goes down and commits you to making contact with him.
“So when we heard it was a dive the whole bench erupted and from Lee’s point of view he thought it was a penalty.”
The fact Boyle was on a booking by that stage was an added later of controversy but Martindale felt the minor barney was actually a turning point for his side.
By that point Hibs had been given a hairdryer treatment by Lee Johnson after being completely swamped in the first half.
A one goal deficit was the best case scenario for the Easter Road side in a woeful opening period where they got mauled.
Poor Jair Taveres was among those who got a crash course in the law of the Scottish football jungle but several others knew what to expect and still got caught up in the carry on.
Forget about evacuation – alarm bells were ringing on the pitch for the visitors.
Livi surged ahead inside just six minutes when Jason Holt nicked in ahead of Kenneh and sent Nouble chasing through. Hibs backline buckled and the hitman cleverly clipped past David Marshall.
The keeper denied the same man before the break and as Livi squeezed, Hibs squealed.
Johnson’s men came out fighting after the break and piled on the pressure, with Martindale joking his side had to eat with about 400 corner kicks.
Kenneh eventually found a way through after Shamal George beat out Paul Hanlon’s header before the ball found its way back across goal.
Hibs should have kicked on but it was Livi who roared back. Nouble could have got another before Marshall blocked Bruce Anderson.
But right at the death Nicky Devlin curled in a corker of a cross and Obileye drifted in and hammered his header in to the net.
George had to make sure with a couple of late saves but it was another bump on the road for this new look Hibs side and a taste of what’s to come when anyone steps in this Lions’ den.
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