MX23RW : Monday, November 25 20:03:59| >> :600:107788:107788:
[monks data]
Attendance: 4,774
Livingston logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 31
Mar 29, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Hibs logo

1-2

Hardie (91' pen.)
FT(HT: 0-0)
Hanlon (71'), Mallan (75')

Paul Heckingbottom admits Hibs win was "hard work"

Paul Heckingbottom admits Hibs win was
© Reuters
Paul Hanlon and Stevie Mallan were on the scoresheet for the capital club, who have moved up to fifth.

Hibernian head coach Paul Heckingbottom hailed the attitude of his players after revealing he told them to make the encounter more scrappy in order to overcome a stubborn Livingston side.

The capital club climbed into fifth spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over the Lions. Second-half strikes from Paul Hanlon and Stevie Mallan did the damage before Ryan Hardie pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in injury time.

Hibs have now racked up 16 points from a possible 18 in the league since Heckingbottom took charge – and he believes his charges showed their versatility by going back to basics following an underwhelming first period.

Heckingbottom said: "It was hard work. It was probably hard work for those watching!

"However, you've got to give Livingston credit. They did their homework and showed exactly why they've been a really tough nut to crack.

"They stopped us playing forward early, stopping any forward passes we made, so we couldn't get a tempo going and couldn't break them down. So, we had to change the tempo, play forward earlier and win more tackles and headers.

"Basically, we wanted the game to get scrappier because it was the only way we could change it. Credit to our lads, they have a great attitude and showed a will to win."

Heckingbottom's counterpart – and former Norwich team-mate – Gary Holt was left to rue the manner of Hibs' opener in the 71st minute which took the wind out of the hosts' sails at a time when a 0-0 draw looked the most likely outcome.

A Mallan corner-kick was flicked on by David Gray, allowing Hanlon to turn home from close range.

He said: "To lose the first goal from a corner is very frustrating. If your man gets a goal from a corner or free-kick and you've got a broken nose or a cut trying to stop him, fair enough.

"But their man (Gray) gets a free header for the flick-on. That can't happen. The first goal is a killer."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '82156d62-d2ed-4dc0-949d-85305787b456');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Heckingbottom lauds \u2018great\u2019 attitude of players as Hibs claim hard-fought win'});

ID:354745: cacheID:354745:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4240:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Gary Holt in charge of Falkirk in November 2013
Read Next:
Holt vows to fight for top-six Livingston finish
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic1211103543134
2Aberdeen12101125121331
3RangersRangers12723179823
4Dundee UnitedDundee Utd135531914520
5Motherwell126151616019
6St Mirren145361923-418
7Dundee134362225-315
8Ross County143651222-1015
9St Johnstone144191727-1013
10Kilmarnock133371526-1112
11Hearts142391524-99
12Hibernian131571222-108


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!