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Attendance: 17,056
Hibs logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 19
Dec 22, 2018 at 3pm UK
 
Livingston logo

1-1

Porteous (80')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Hardie (56')

Holt: Livingston win would have been unfair on Hibernian

Holt: Livingston win would have been unfair on Hibernian
© Reuters
Livi were on course for victory at Easter Road until teenager Ryan Porteous' late leveller.

Livingston boss Gary Holt admits he felt like time was going backwards at Easter Road after his side were denied a stunning victory against Hibernian.

The Lions, with just five points from a possible 24 on the board on their travels prior to Saturday's clash in the capital, took a shock lead in the second half when Ryan Hardie dinked a delightful finish past Adam Bogdan.

And it looked destined to be Livi's day when Liam Kelly plunged to his right to save a pitiful penalty kick by Florian Kamberi with 19 minutes left.

However, Holt concedes that he never felt comfortable – and that proved to be prescient, as Ryan Porteous headed home a late leveller.

Nevertheless, Livi remain ahead of Hibs in the standings as they continue to make a mockery of those who predicted they would face a relegation battle this season.

A smiling Holt said: "When Liam saves the penalty I'm still not thinking it's our day – there was too long left. I was looking at the clock thinking 'it's going backwards here!' It wasn't going down.

"We wanted to win the game and when you get a goal you are thinking 'go on, win it' but, honestly, I'll say that if we had taken all three points it would have been unfair on Hibs. Liam made some good saves, including the penalty kick.

"They had a foothold and were pushing us back and back, but Liam didn't have too many saves to make. That was a pleasing thing.

"They had possession and put us under pressure but I think we withstood that. We didn't panic or lose our shape. A draw was probably fair."

Hibs boss Neil Lennon, meanwhile, paid tribute to teenage goal hero Porteous, who converted a Daryl Horgan delivery for his third goal of the season.

The young defender was visibly playing through the pain barrier following a first-half knock but still displayed a determination that Lennon has demanded from the rest of his team-mates.

Lennon said: "We're relying on Porteous again to get us out of trouble. I'm talking about the same players every week.

"Guys like Efe Ambrose and Ryan Porteous, while Martin Boyle was back to his best again. They're playing at a level that the rest have to get up to."

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A calm and composed Neil Lennon in charge of Hibs in April 2018
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