Lee Makel scored the only goal of the game to earn Livingston all three points against Hibernian at the City Stadium.

The former Hearts midfielder stole in behind a square Hibs defence in the 26th minute to hook in David Fernandez's overhead pass.

Hibs offered plenty of effort in the second period of a niggly game but could not find a way past Livingston's resolute defence.

But both sides had struggled to take a grip on the proceedings early on although Hibs threatened the deadlock after only seven minutes as Derek Riordan's shot from Kevin Nicol's cross hit the side-netting.

The same duo combined in the 15th minute and came within a whisker of the opener.

Again, Nicol's wicked cross was volleyed goalwards by Riordan but the effort slipped just over the bar with Roddy McKenzie beaten.

The visitors suffered a massive blow in the 19th minute as midfielder Kevin Thomson crumpled under a heavy challenge from Livingston skipper Stuart Lovell and had to replaced Alan Reid.

And, in the 26th minute, the home side took the lead with a goal out of nothing.

On-loan Celtic striker David Fernandez was Hibs' tormentor, hooking the ball over his head to find Makel breaking from midfield.

And the midfielder superbly lifted his shot beyond Daniel Andersson and into the empty net.

Livi should have been two goals ahead in the 33rd minute David McNamee sent in a cross from the right-hand side of the area and found both Derek Lilley and Jamie McAllister lurking, onside, at the far post.

But Lilley only succeeded in taking the ball off McAllister's toes when the wing-back looked better placed to make the most of the chance.

In first-half injury-time, Hibs thought they had finally got the equaliser.

Riordan beat Emmanuel Dorado on the edge of the box but his powerful drive struck the bar and bounced down on the wrong side of the goal-line.

Jarkko Wiss followed in and looked to have been fouled by Oscar Rubio as he headed goalwards but referee John Underhill waved play on.

After the break, Hibs again came close to an equaliser as Riordan's free-kick was deflected on target by Colin Murdock but McKenzie scrambled across goal to hold the header on his line.

The match threatened to flare up out of control after Lovell was booked for a wild swipe at Brown.

Makel's sublime chip on the turn went close and Riordan threatened at the other end before the match descended into a series of long balls punted from end to end with little pattern to the play.

But, in the 75th minute, the home side had keeper McKenzie to thank for saving the points.

Riordan's free-kick from the right was glanced on by Murdock and then again by Brown's thigh but McKenzie got down to his right to save at his post.

Teams

Livingston McKenzie, Rubio, Andrews, Dorado, McNamee, Makel, O'Brien, Lovell (Quino 73), McAllister, Lilley (Pasquinelli 82), Fernandez.

Subs Not Used: Main, Scott McLaughlin, Brittain.

Booked: Lovell, McAllister, Fernandez.

Goals: Makel 26.

Hibernian Andersson, Smith, Murdock, Doumbe, Whittaker, Scott Brown, Thomson (Reid 21), Wiss (Dobbie 88), Nicol, O'Connor (McManus 75), Riordan.

Subs Not Used: Hyldgaard, Baillie.

Booked: Reid, Doumbe.

Att: 5,621

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).