This is how it feels (Livingston 13 08 22)

Lovely sunshine, a decent and noisy travelling support together with a first airing for our new third kit. What could possibly go wrong? In a nutshell – the entire first half and the final five minutes of normal time during which periods, Livingston scored two eminently avoidable goals. We scored through Kenneh and missed a couple of glorious chances to add to that goal, but one effort was well saved and the other was ballooned over the bar with the net empty in front of the striker.

Both Campbell and Bushiri missed out through injury whilst Tavares was drafted in, and long term absentee Paul Hanlon made his return alongside Porteous in the heart of the defence. I’ve made no secret of my dislike for synthetic surfaces but as long as the authorities allow them, Livingston will not change to grass and why should they? Having said that, I expect professional footballers to adapt and ours struggled to do that throughout the game. Essentially, I’m not blaming the surface for our defeat, that blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the players.

We were struggling from the off and it was clear we were in for a physical battle with home players committing three fouls in the opening five minutes. The most physical of all was Joel Nouble as he collected the ball just inside the Hibs half and set off for goal. Everyone backed off until finally Hanlon decided to intervene and was left for dead on the edge of the box. The big striker then sidestepped a challenge from Porteous and slotted the ball past Marshall, the strike hitting the post on the way in. I’ve read posts in the past on here denouncing Nouble as a ‘big huddy’ but I’ll tell you what I’d have him our side in a heartbeat. He was immense throughout, often rag dolling our defenders and generally causing mayhem and his non stop style creates openings for team mates.

Hibs tried to respond but there was no pace in our attacking and the Livi players were giving the visitors no time to settle on the ball. After twenty minutes, Melkersen had to go off injured and was replaced by Doidge. The effect of that was to see Tavares moved wide on the right, Youan to the left and Doidge in the middle. I hoped that Tavares might actually get involved on the right as he had been pretty much a spectator on the left. A cross from the Livi left found Pittman in the box but his headed attempt was straight at Marshall. It was somewhat concerning that Pittman, one of the smallest players in their team, was allowed to find time to get onto that cross.

Nouble was causing all sorts of bother and on the half hour it took a good save from Marshall to deny the striker a second goal. Soon after, an under hit passback by Cadden gifted the ball to Nouble who drifted into the box, muscled Porteous out of the way and then struck a shot that Marshall did well to save. Moments later, Henderson tried his luck with a free kick from around twenty yards, but his shot hit the wall and was cleared. Next, Porteous got his head to a Newell cross but couldn’t get any power on the effort and their keeper collected easily. On the touchline, a visibly angry Lee Johnson looked as if half time couldn’t come quickly enough as he prepared in his mind just exactly what he was going to say to his underperforming players and just ahead of the break Hibs had their first attempt on target when Cabraja found Doidge with a fine cross but although Christian got his head to the ball and steered the effort downwards, there was no pace in it and the keeper saved easily.

Unsurprisingly, Tavares was hooked at half time and Boyle came on in his place which gave the large travelling support a real lift. It had a similar effect on his team mates as Hibs were up and at them from the off. A few minutes in and Kenneh rifled a low shot just wide of the post and then Hanlon got a header on target from a Newell cross, but the keeper saved low to his left. Livi were finding life difficult now and before long Hibs were level. A corner came in from the left and the ball was in the air at the back post where it struck Youan before flying back across the box where Kenneh was on hand to head the ball high into the net. Given the pressure Hibs were creating they were worthy of that equaliser.

Next, Montano was booked for a crude challenge on Boyle who was himself booked for his reaction to the challenge. That incident caused a bit of a stramash with players pushing and shoving each other in the best handbags tradition but thankfully referee Craig Napier didn’t go too daft flashing yellows everywhere. Within seconds though, Montano was at it again in hacking down Henderson with the Hibs players surrounding the ref demanding another card. Leading the Hibs pack was Ryan Porteous but thankfully he escaped punishment. It was interesting that Napier then had words with Marshall presumably telling him to quieten Porto down.

Hibs were battering them now and won a whole series of corners that sadly came to nothing although Hanlon and Doidge at least had headers on target following crosses for Henderson and Newell respectively. Boyle was certainly worrying them and was found a couple of times with good passes by Porteous but although crosses were delivered, they failed to find a team mate. Livi were defending manfully and sometimes over physically with Omeonga seeming to catch Boyle with a high challenge in the box. Boyle went over but Napier was not interested. He was however interested moments later when after advice from the fourth official, both David Martindale and Lee Johnson were booked for, I found out later, a full and frank exchange of views over the penalty claim.

For some reason, Hibs took their foot off the gas and Livi started to be more attacking again with Nouble unlucky to see a snap shot clear the bar whilst Obileye and Pittman saw efforts blocked. Fantastic work by Youan saw the ball arrive at the feet of Henderson some twelve yards out but rather that strike it first time he took a touch and allowed a defender to clear the danger. At the other end, Omeonga fed Nouble, but the big striker couldn’t get a clean connection and fired wide.

With the game nearing its end, Hibs were guilty of allowing the hosts too much time and space as substitutes Bruce Anderson and Philip Cancar going close, the Anderson one drawing a fine save from Marshall. There was just six minutes of normal time left and Cabraja fouled Devlin wide on their right. The Livi man needed treatment and so Hibs had plenty of time to set up to defend the free kick but failed miserably as Kelly’s bread and butter cross picked out a totally unmarked Obileye who headed the ball past Marshall from around eight yards. At the time I was berating our central defenders, but I’ve since been told that it was Doidge marking the Livi man and failing to match his run.

In the last minute of normal time, Hibs brought on Bojang for Kenneh and when the board went up signifying five minutes would be added, Hibs started piling forward again. After a Newell shot was well saved, Porteous found Youan, and the striker swivelled and shot with his fierce effort well saved by the Livi keeper. A mere minute later, a superb pass picked out Boyle who cut the ball back to Bojang who had the goal at his mercy but contrived to lift his shot over the bar and the game was lost.

The players – No pass marks for the first half to any of them.

Marshall – Had to be on his toes a few times and though he was well beaten for the goal he twice denied Livi from adding to their total with fine saves.

Cadden – Chris wasn’t able to get forward as much as we’ve seen him do in the past and that was largely down to Livi denying him the space.

Porteous – Solid enough throughout but he needs to control that temper as there’s plenty of ref’s who would be only too happy to caution him for it.

Hanlon – I admit, I was surprised to see him start and even more surprised that he lasted as long as he did after his extended lay off.

Cabraja – A bit of a mixed bag as it was his poor ball that set Livi on the goal trail for the opener.

Kenneh – Once or twice he was caught on the ball but overall, he did ok. Great that he scored his first goal for the club.

Newell – Energy levels not in doubt and delivered a fair few decent crosses but he really needs to start working on getting shots away.

Melkersen – Had to go off after twenty minutes.

Henderson – More involved than in the Derby but didn’t really shine at all.

Tavares – Missing in action for large parts of the 45 minutes he got.

Youan – The guy never stops running and is very difficult to shrug off, but he needs to have it drummed into him to lift his head at times.

Doidge – As poor as I’ve seen him of late and certainly not a patch on Nouble when it comes to leading the line.

Boyle – Gave us all a lift with his introduction and was desperately unlucky to look on in horror as his perfect cut back was fired over the bar by Bojang.

McLelland – On the pitch for their winner but marking his own man.

Doyle-Hayes – Brought on to release Newell to play further forward.

Bojang – Missed a glorious chance unfortunately.

Lee Johnson – Needs to get them playing with intent from the off.

Referee – Thought Craig Napier refereed the game sensibly.