Once down and out after being released by Hamilton Accies, combining working on the roads with playing in the Juniors, Scott Pittman is the epitome of this Livingston team. How appropriate, then, that his goal earned them their first major scalp of their Premiership return.
The 26-year-old has confessed he feared his chance of playing professional football had gone only a few years ago. Yet, courtesy of the hard work, determination, spirit and unheralded skill that courses through the Lions, here was Pittman netting his first-ever top-flight goal to claim victory over Hibernian and consign Neil Lennon’s misfiring outfit to their first domestic defeat of the campaign.
That they came from behind to register back-to-back wins is typical of the West Lothian outfit. Daryl Horgan gave Hibs the lead early in the second-half and that, many assumed, was that. However, Livingston have not risen from playing League One football just 16 months ago to the upper reaches of the Premiership without a willingness to battle against the odds, and Shaun Byrne’s equaliser was followed by Pittman’s clinching goal to earn the Almondvale team their first win over Hibs since April 2005.
Following the turmoil of Kenny Miller’s shock departure from the dugout and the arrival of new manager Gary Holt, the win was proof that the siege mentality built by David Hopkin over the last two seasons is alive and well.
“It’s quite surreal playing against teams like Celtic this season and I’m just glad to get my first goal in the Premiership,” said Pittman. “Hopefully I’ll get a few more and I can prove I can play at this level.
“For loads of boys in the team this is their first crack at the Premiership so I think we’re showing we can compete against these teams. Nothing fazes us and we’ve got nothing to really fear this season. People probably think we are going to be in a relegation battle, but if we stick to doing what we are doing we will be fine.
“I didn't really think I would get a chance again. When I was younger I was at Hamilton and got released, and you never think you will get the chance again. But I am glad I took it.
“I know what it is like to work in a normal job and I think that makes me work that wee bit harder on the pitch. I know what it's like to work and this is much better. I worked on the roads and it wasn't the best when I had to work outside in the cold, so it's about taking my chance.”
Hibs turned the tables on their hosts when Efe Ambrose’s long throw-in led to Horgan poking in the opening goal shortly after the interval. But the lead lasted just six minutes as the excellent Shaun Byrne chopped his way past two flying challenges to fire in the equaliser. Pittman completed the comeback when he drilled in the winner as Hibs were caught cold following a substitution.
Horgan was a bright spot in a substandard Hibs display that lacked cohesion as the match wore on. Livingston’s goals exposed continued shortcomings in defence and, with 21-year-old striker Lewis Allan afforded his first start in the absence of the injured Florian Kamberi, there was also a lack of incisiveness in attack.
“To be fair, we didn't play particularly well,” said Horgan. “In the first-half, I thought we were comfortable and in control. A lack of quality in the final third was the killer for us, really. We looked very solid and got the goal, but we weren't good enough, to be honest.
“There's a lot of new faces that have come in, myself included. It does take time to adapt to how the manager wants to do things, but we just weren't good enough. As I say, sometimes it doesn't happen. It's maybe not good enough as an excuse, but that's the way it went - it just didn't seem to click.”
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