Hibs were made to settle for a point apiece against bottom of the table Livingston on Saturday afternoon at Easter Road with Marvin Bartley’s Livingston earning themselves a fourth consecutive draw.

David Gray’s men had plenty of chances to win the match, hitting the woodwork twice as Livingston defended strongly throughout to earn a point.

Both sides started the game slowly, but it was the visitors who managed to create the first opportunity of the match. Stevie May’s strike from close range was initially poorly pushed away by Raphael Sallinger, Rocky Bushiri was the first to react and clear the loose ball from any danger.

Jamie McGrath came the closest to opening the scoring for the hosts after the 20th minute. Nicky Cadden, who was causing the Livingston defence all sorts of problems, played a low ball into the feet of McGrath whose first effort at goal inside the box was blocked before his follow up attempt cannoned off the crossbar.

Hibs threatened once more as Warren O’Hora’s headed effort sailed just wide of goal after another dangerous cross was played into the box by Nicky Cadden, Hibs continued to dictate proceedings with much of the match being played in Livingston’s half.

As the half time interval approached, Livingston striker Joel Nouble saw himself at the heart of a rare attack from the visitors, his curling effort from the edge of the box forced goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger into making a routine save.

It was a first half that was very much controlled by the home team, but despite that, Livingston’s backline had done well to deal with Hibs’ constant pressure and cancel out any chance of a first half opener for the hosts.

Hibs carved out two promising opportunities within the opening fifteen minutes of the second half, Dan Barlaser played an inviting ball towards the back post for Nicky Cadden, who was unable to get a proper connection onto the ball to steer it goalwards.

Jamie McGrath would then collect another low cross that was sent into the box from Nicky Cadden, the Irishman was made to watch his strike come off the woodwork for the second time this afternoon, inches away from an opening goal.

On the hour mark, Hibs boss David Gray turned to his bench as Martin Boyle and Tottenham loanee Dane Scarlett entered the field of play in hope of making an impact, with frustration beginning to grow amongst the Easter Road support.

Livingston then had their first chance of the second half having been pinned back into their own half for the majority of the second half, Robbie Muirhead made a bursting run down the left-hand side, but his effort went comfortably wide of the Hibs goal.

With ten minutes remaining, another huge chance came Hibs’ way as Jerome Prior did brilliantly to deny Dane Scarlett an opener from close range, Josh Campbell was then presented with the rebound only a few yards from goal, but he could only put his effort over the crossbar.

Referee Lloyd Wilson awarded Hibs a spot kick in the 90th minute after Martin Boyle was said to have been brought down in the box by Mo Sylla, but an on-field VAR check meant the decision was quickly overturned which resulted in Boyle being shown a yellow card for simulation.

Despite registering over twenty shots on goal, Hibs were forced to settle for a point as they failed to break down a resilient Livingston side who defended exceptionally well for large spells in the game.

Up next for Hibs is a trip to Fir Park next weekend to face Motherwell who are six points above them in fourth place, whereas Livingston travel to Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock who are six points above them in 11th place.