Hibs broughtthe curtain down on season 2023-24 in fitting fashion, as they surrendered alead to drop another two points away to a Livingston team long destined for theChampionship. A Myziane Maolida strike, his 11th since joining theclub in late January, was cancelled out by Bruce Anderson capitalising on a ballhurled into the Hibs box, causing confusion and chaos. Despite the visitorschasing hard for a winner, urged on by caretaker boss David Gray, they couldnot find a way past substitute Livi goalie Kieran Wright.
And so, inevitably, thecampaign ended with a whimper, rather than a bang. In the finalgame of a season best forgotten, a footballing year so lacking in entertainmentthat official Hibs historians may redact it from all future retrospectives, thenumber of away fans who made the short journey to Livingston served as areminder of the potential just waiting to be released, when – if – things turnaround. Because this was the deadest of dead rubbers.
A match carrying suchlittle consequence that it brought new depth to the “meaningless” description trottedout with such frequence at this time of year. Still, therewere a couple of chances to divert the punters in the opening half hour,Michael Nottingham’s header from a corner brilliantly turned aside by JooWollacott, while Nectar Triantis saw a low shot deflected wide after a neatone-two with Joe Newell on the edge of the box. If the football was hardly scintillating,both teams were fully committed to playing thin.
