Hibs instant analysis as Martin Boyle winner grinds it out

A first-half goal from Martin Boyle was all that separated Nick Montgomery's side from the league's bottom team on the day, but the Tony Macaroni remains a tricky venue regardless of the hosts current struggles. Hibs were required to grind out the points during an ugly second-half, but again proved they can slog as well as sparkle, keeping Livingston out despite a late push from the home side. It appeared Livi were about to be awarded a late penalty for handball against Paul Hanlon, but referee Grant Irvine signalled for an offside after consulting the pitchside VAR monitor.

Hearts' last-gasp defeat at Aberdeen sees Hibs move above their city rivals in the table, capping a hard day's work with an added bonus. Patrick McPartlin and Liam Bryce were in West Lothian to provide the instant analysis.

Free role for Boyle

Perhaps the biggest dilemma for Nick Montgomery is where to use Martin Boyle. Does he make use of his pace in the wide areas, or does he play him through the middle? Wherever he plays he is a threat because of his pace and eye for goal but against Livingston he was tasked with something of a roving role. Hibs actually did something similar with Élie Youan on their last trip to West Lothian, in which the French forward was granted the freedom to drift out wide and also come centrally, getting two goals as a result. Given Livingston’s struggles in recent weeks, it was a smart move to task the Australian forward with terrorising the entire home defence and he used his pace to good effect on a handful of occasions.  It also created more space for Youan, who was granted similar freedom, and fellow forwards Dylan Vente and Jair Tavares, and created a situation in which the hosts found it hard to cope with each Hibs attack.  Boyle is unpredictable at the best of times so to give him a free role in a fluid front line made the best of all his qualities. 

Patrick McPartlin

Hibs puzzle it out

It took Hibs some time to get to grips with Livingston's shape, and it made for an opening 15 minutes, or so, where pretty much nothing happened. The home side effectively blocked off routes into Joe Newell and Dylan Levitt, and sprung their press as soon as the ball went to Rory Whittaker at right-back. Initially, the teenager was looking up the line, only to be met with nothing but yellow jerseys. The result was an opening period where Livi were able to gain territory without really being able to do anything with it. As time wore on, Hibs began to puzzle out a route upfield, quickly shifting the ball left to right and opening up space to get into the opposition half. Once there, Livingston's relatively high line opened up opportunities in behind, and there was a feeling the goal was coming in the minutes before it arrived. Elie Youan and Jair Tavares were occupying more dangerous areas, and it was the former driving through a central area which ended up creating the goal for Boyle. Hibs started the second-half with similar fluidity, but that intensity seemed to fade away after Vente's disallowed goal.

Liam Bryce

Case for the defence

It’s fair to say there were a few hairy moments for the Hibs defence at Celtic Park on Wednesday night which weren’t just down to the home side’s superior firepower. Nick Montgomery made four changes to his starting XI, with three of them coming in the back four. Bold, you might say. Risky, definitely. There was a third start for Rory Whittaker with Lewis Miller ruled out on the morning of the game, while the fit-again Jordan Obita came in for Lewis Stevenson. Paul Hanlon, a second-half substitute in midweek, started alongside Will Fish, the only survivor from Glasgow. 

Hardly makeshift, but possibly not Montgomery’s first choice backline. And yet there was a strong collective performance, and good individual displays as well. Hanlon in particular was a rock at the back and popped up time and again with vital interceptions, tackles, or headers. 

Even when Whittaker made way for Josh Campbell late on, and the defence did take on a makeshift quality, it was the replacement who caught the eye with a header reminiscent of Robin van Persie in the 2014 World Cup - only at the other end of the pitch - as he intervened to nod a dangerous ball back to David Marshall.

Shaky elements of the Hibs defence have been widely discussed in recent seasons - including the current campaign - but this was a backs-to-the-wall performance that contributed to another ugly, but much-needed victory. 

Patrick McPartlin

Youan consistently decisive

Hibs don't always get a consistent 90 minute performance out of the Frenchman, but it's striking how consistently he is involved in goals. Having spent a few weeks out of the team, he provided the assist for Christian Doidge's consolation finish at Celtic Park in midweek, and while he won't be awarded another one here, Boyle's goal doesn't happen without him. It appeared Montgomery had given Youan license to drift in from his right flank starting position, and it was a positive drive through the middle which caused the required chaos in the Livingston backline for the ball to find its way to Boyle. In truth, he slightly overran it, but it is his consistent committing of defenders that makes him such a persistent problem for opposition teams. Hibs are undoubtedly a more threatening outfit with Youan on the pitch.

Liam Bryce