THE chatter around Hibernian this week has been all about Roy Keane, Phillip Cocu and Paul Clement, and who will fill their dugout vacancy. On the pitch, it was the less glamorous name of Scott Pittman that fully deserved the spotlight as Livingston moved into seventh in the Premiership.
These are times of crumbs of comfort for teams not in danger of relegation in the bottom six. For Livingston, a second victory since the split was enough to send them above their visitors in an attempt to end the season on a positive note. The Lions were so close to the top-six and the fight for European football that would have elicited, but now have less rewarding aims ahead.
However, Pittman had every right to celebrate a memorable personal milestone as he set a new top-flight appearance record for Livi with his 124th outing. It was fitting, then, that he was the match-winner with a second-half goal.
The quiet 29-year-old, who is also now 11 short of breaking Keaghan Jacobs’ all-time appearance record across all divisions, has a reputation for timing his runs to perfection and he was at it again just 11 minutes after the break to separate the teams on the pitch and in the table. Invaluable for Livi for the last eight seasons and with another year left to run on his current contract, manager David Martindale revealed afterwards he will open talks over a new agreement to keep the stalwart at the club until his testimonial campaign.
“I am delighted for Pitts and it was a fantastic finish,” he said of his 57th-minute strike. “I am so happy he broke the record but he will smash all the records at this club. Keaghan Jacobs is 10 games ahead of him for the all-time record but he could surpass that by 100 at least. He’s a local boy and it’s great to see as I don’t think it will ever be done again.
“I am going to speak to Pitts’ agent again to get him tied down and take him through to his testimonial year and beyond. He’s a living legend at Livingston I’ll speak to the agent and I’ll speak to Pitts.
“He’s one of those players who is a good fit. You’ve seen boys move over the years and it doesn’t quite work out when they go to other clubs. He’s in a club where he’s loved, he’s valued and he brings a lot to this football club, and I think he knows that and he’s comfortable here. There’s a lot to be said for that loyalty.”
Pittman was twice close to a breakthrough in the opening minutes before Hibs seized the initiative and dominated possession. They finished the match having registered 18 shots at goal but, crucially, none were on target. Josh Doig did flash in an effort in the first-half but home skipper Nicky Devlin repelled it before it reached goal and Hibs were profligate throughout.
When Andrew Shinnie burst into space on the left side of the box early in the second period his perceptive cutback to the edge of the box was rewarded with a superb finish from Pittman that speared into the roof of the net and was enough to seal the victory.
“We should have been more clinical and taken our chances,” said interim Hibs manager David Gray. “It kind of sums up our season — 18 shots on goal and nothing on target. It shows where we’re struggling, to put the ball in the net.
“It’s important to finish the season as strongly as you can. As a football player, you’re always being judged. If you’re not putting it in towards the end of the season then people start to question your character or determination.
“It’s important every time you pull the jersey on that you apply yourself as hard as you can to the best of your ability.”
