Livingston 1 Hibernian 2

14th December 2002
Scottish Premier League
Attendance:

Scorers:
Hibernian: Murray, James.
Livingston: Brinquin.

This is a copy of a report of the game as it appeared in the Scotland on Sunday on Sunday 15th December 2002

James gangs up on Lions

WINNING has escaped Livingston. Especially at home. They have only managed it at Almondvale twice this season. There were signs that they may amend that impoverished statistic a little yesterday, but they were early signs and they were not followed through with conviction. Instead, Hibernian were able to show them how it is done, goals from Ian Murray and Craig James after the interval making it a profitable afternoon for Bobby Williamson.

The upward surge of Hibernian continues as they got beyond a couple of matches in which they had failed to fully capitalise but were able to do so yesterday. Livingston on the pitch are not having a happy time of it right now. They are hanging around at the wrong end of the league table. Instead of looking ahead of them they are watching their backs.

They had their moments in this match but between lack of conviction and some fairly decent goalkeeping any intentions that they had remained unrealised.

At least they will not have to face teams from Edinburgh for a while, Hearts putting them to the sword last weekend. Hibernian showing them up on this occasion. It has not been the best week for Livingston, perhaps next week will be brighter.

It is said silence speaks volumes. At Almondvale yesterday it spoke of sadness and unimaginable loss. A hushed minute was impeccably observed by both sets of fans for former Livingston director Bob Clark who died this week and for Lydia Pripelli, long-term girlfriend of Livingston striker Eugene Dadi. She committed suicide on Friday, Dadi discovering her body upon returning home from training. Livingston chairman Dominic Keane said Dadi was "absolutely devastated" and asked for the player’s privacy to be respected. Against this painful backdrop, a game of football played on.

Livingston have succeeded in going global this week. A feature concerning the West Lothian club, praising their progressiveness and fiscal fortitude has popped up in the latest edition of World Soccer magazine, the football supporter’s recognised bible. Rubbing shoulders with cover star Ronaldo.

It was Rolando to the fore against Hibernian yesterday. Rolando Zarate that is, in tandem with Livingston strike partner Barry Wilson. The pair of them fairly terrorised the Hibernian goal and but for the important saves of Nick Colgan, Bobby Williamson’s half-time team talk would surely have centred on the task of retreiving a deficit. As it was it stood 0-0.

But not through a lack of trying on the hell-bent home side’s behalf. It was an even game possession wise but Livingston somehow hogged all the near goal chances. They have been fretting about the amount of goals they have been letting in recently have Livingston, though they at least had Gary Bollan back from suspension. But most of the action was down the other end.

The early skirmishes involved first Yannick Zambernardi falling clumsily on Wilson in the Hibernian box and faint claims of a penalty kick that were not realised. Livingston keeper Javier Sanchez Broto then had to look sharp stretching and punching a threatening Jarkko Wiss free-kick clear for a corner. From that Michael Hart had to clear from a Mixu Paatelainen header.

Livingston had gone five games without a league win entering this fixture, the kind of poverty of point collection that explains them moving nearer and nearer the wrong end of the table where the likes of Dundee United and Motherwell had them within sight. This was the first of five games before the winter break for Livingston to set about improving their position. Hibs faring relatively better won 3-0 the last meeting at Almondvale in March.

They could have been three down by the interval on this occasion. Zarate could safely count four chances that came his way during the shortest of spells. The first squirmed off his shin but he knew more about the next. A poor Colgan clearance fell to Zarate but the Hibs keeper redeemed himself with a save wide. Zarate had further pot-shots wide before Wilson who had hitherto been wide supplier got in on the act too. His best opportunity when Lee Makel sent him clean through on Colgan who made a superb block.

Despite such incursions splitting the Hibs rearguard, some of the attempts were timid and those that were not were met by the re-assurring Colgan. It was a brief respite for Hibs when Tam McManus treated the crowd to a trick. With three goals in five games, white-haired McManus, looking like a Leith version of Alan Smith, has been operating up front with Paatelainen in the absence of Garry O’Connor. He stood out for more than his bright coiffure when he picked up a ball in the Livingston box, foot-juggled with it in tight space, twisted and caused Broto to leap to catch up with the volley.

For all Livingston’s openings they were two to the bad after the hour mark. Hibs upped the ante in the second-half as they sought to extend the host’s poor home run and help themselves to three points. Midfielder Craig James had a hand in both goals, indeed scoring the second. First his headed flick reached Ian Murray whose finish, a clever one, was as effective as the touch on. Broto was left plucking the ball out of his net and was again soon after. John O’Neil released Alen Orman wide right and his near post cross met McManus whose close-range shot was blocked by Broto. But there was Craig to opportunely sweep the rebound over the line and celebrate.

Livingston brought on Cherif Toure Maman for the second-half and he featured as they pushed to retrieve the margin. Cherif tested his luck with a couple of shots but the luck that Livingston ultimately received came too late. Zarate took a free-kick which was semi-cleared only for Philippe Brinquin to finish it off. The funny thing was that it was Hibs who were raising their hands in celebration. The referee had just blown his final whistle to silence the forlorn home cheers.

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