Hibernian 0 Livingston 3

Last updated : 16 April 2005 By Footymad Previewer
Livingston gave themselves hope of beating the drop by handing Hibs their biggest home defeat of the season.

Second-half goals from Derek Lilley, Hassan Kachloul and Burton O'Brien sank Hibs but, with Dundee United also winning, it was not enough to lift Livingston off the bottom.

But the victory will by a huge confidence boost for Richard Gough's side for the final run-in.

Much was expected of the home side after their midweek win in the Edinburgh derby but it was Livingston who took the game by the scruff of its neck.

Kachloul showed neat footwork at the edge of the area to fashion himself a shooting chance but curled his effort a couple of yards too high.

A short free-kick from O'Brien teed up Jason Dair but his long-range shot was comfortably saved by Simon Brown.

Lilley then tried his luck from distance but his effort failed to trouble the goalkeeper as it sailed over the crossbar.

Hibs were struggling to put together their passing game as Livingston had the better of a poor first half.

Steven Whittaker did offer some hope for the Easter Road side when he took a pass from Steven Fletcher and cut inside before shooting just over.

Derek Riordan then threatened on the other wing with a low shot which goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie easily dealt with.

But it was a rare glimpse of the striker in the match as he was kept shackled by David McNamee.

McNamee joined his attack at one stage to set up Lilley but the striker's control let him down at the vital time and Hibs survived.

For all Livingston's possession in the middle of the park, they did not seriously trouble Simon Brown as too often their final pass in search of the strikers was wayward.

Garry O'Connor had a chance to break the deadlock at the other end six minutes from the break but shot into the side-netting with the Livingston defence claiming he had received the ball in an offside position.

Riordan should also have done better moments later when O'Connor set him up but he guided his 15-yard shot high over the top.

But Livi had the best chance when Lilley played in Colin McMenamin on the stroke of half-time but he was denied by the boot of Simon Brown.

The visitors took a deserved lead four minutes into the second half with a bizarre goal. O'Brien made a great run down the left before cutting the ball back to Lilley whose mis-hit shot did not look like troubling Simon Brown until Kachloul stepped over the ball and it rolled into the net.

Kachloul then troubled the goalkeeper with an ambitious 50-yard shot which the goalkeeper dealt with untidily.

It was the Moroccan who scored the second after 61 minutes when his volley from an O'Brien corner squeezed into the net past Simon Brown and Stephen Glass.

Hibs immediately sent on Amadou Konte and Sam Morrow to try and spice up their attack but Livingston held on grimly.

Konte sent one shot just a yard wide but McKenzie had it covered and Gary Caldwell sent a header wide from six yards.

McMenamin should have scored a third with 15 minutes left when he was clean through on Brown but shot against the goalkeeper's legs.

But the goal came three minutes from time from O'Brien's boot after Lilley had set him up and returned the favour for the opening goal.