Hibernian have closed the gap at the top of the Scottish Championship to two points with a 2-1 victory over Livingston at Easter Road.
Hibs came into the match five points behind Rangers at the top of the second tier but in an end-to-end beginning in the heavy rain they nearly found themselves behind after just three minutes when Darran Gallagher headed narrowly over from a corner.
However, the hosts established themselves as the dominant force as the first half wore on and they squandered a good chance to open the scoring when top scorer Jason Cummings could only find the side-netting after rounding Mark McCallum.
The hosts created further opportunities when James Keatings scuffed wide and Liam Henderson fired over the bar from the edge of the box.
Only some last-ditch defending from Livingston prevented Martin Boyle from finding a breakthrough as Hibs continued to put pressure on the visitors, and McCallum just about held on to another Henderson effort as the score remained goalless at the break.
Livingston had the first efforts of the second half when Scott Pittman and Myles Hippolyte were denied by Mark Oxley shortly after the restart, but it was the hosts who took a deserved lead when John McGinn beat two defenders and played in Keatings to finish coolly.
McCallum produced a fine double save to prevent the hosts doubling their advantage and a superb reflex stop to keep out McGinn's effort, but it was 2-0 with 20 minutes to go when Keatings drove at the defence and curled home his fifth in the last two games from 20 yards.
The forward came within inches of completing a hat-trick in spectacular style when his overhead kick landed just wide of the post, and although Jordyn Sheerin slammed home a consolation late on, Hibs held on to move to within two points of Rangers.
Tom Nightingale
