Thibault Klidje repays record Hibs transfer vs tame Livingston to set up Rangers quarter final – 5 talking points

David Gray's men continued their early season momentum in the Premier Sports Cup

Thibault Klidje marked his first start with a goal against Livingston as Hibs set up a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final date with Rangers.

Josh Mulligan made sure of the win in the dying stages with a howitzer from distance just minutes after coming off the bench.

Record £1million record signing Klidje glanced home Martin Boyle’s corner just before the break and put in a lively display before being subbed in the 68th minute.

The Togo international had been restricted to four sub cameo outings before this clash and finally made the most of his chance to shine.

Klidje was one of six changes to the starting XI as boss David Gray mixed it up ahead of Thursday's crucial Conference League play-off first leg against Legia Warsaw.

Hibs wasted little time in finding their feet and could have gone ahead inside the first minute.

Klidje outmuscled Shane Blaney to get on the end of a long ball and his dipping shot from the edge of the box was tipped over by the backtracking Jerome Prior.

From Boyle’s corner Klidje then found himself unmarked at the backrest but the 24 year-old made a mess of his header and Prior gathered.

The Lions enjoyed success down the right flank but their deliveries into the box came to nothing.

Lions keeper Prior then did well to push a Josh Campbell drive from distance away.

But Hibs broke the deadlock two minutes before the break through Klidje.

Boyle whipped in a corner from the left and Klidje met the delivery at the front post to glance past Prior.

Livingston upped the pressure after the break but Hibs made sure keeper Rafa Sallinger had a quiet debut with a solid defensive display.

And sub Mulligan wrapped up the win with a rocket from 25-yards that found the top corner in the 87th minute.

Hibs' debut

This was Hibs’ seventh game in 25 days as they juggle domestic and European football and Hibs boss David Gray tinkered with the team that progressed in the Conference League with an extra-time aggregate win over Partizan Belgrade on Thursday.

That meant handing full debuts to three of his new recruits. As well as Klidje, goalkeeper Salinger and midfielder Miguel Chaiwa also got the chance to impress.

Towering Austrian stopper Sallinger’s appearance came on the back of number one Jordan Smith being at fault for two goals against the Serbians.

Pace in attack

Kieron Bowie delivered a textbook display in forward play against Partizan and with the marksman enjoying a well earned rest from the starting XI Martin Boyle and Klidje led the line.

Hibs were happy to hit high balls over the top for the pacey pair to run onto.

That caused problems for the Lions centre backs Ryan McGowan and Shane Blaney.

And McGowan picked up a booking in the 16th minute for a cynical foul on Klidje on the far touchline.

Record transfer makes a mark

After four sub outings amounting to only 33 minutes record signing Klidje was finally handed the chance to show what he is all about from the start.

There was not even a minute on the clock when the former Luzern man forced a save from Jerome Prior.

He put in a shift and his overeuberance got the better of him when he was booked for barging into Shane Blaney.

But he had the Hibs chanting his name with the opening goal in the 43rd minute when he forced home Martin Boyle’s corner.

Klidje went off to a standing ovation from the Hibs fans in the 68th minute

Tame Lions

Livingston were blunt in attack in the first half as they failed to even register a single shot on target. It was an easy first start for Sallinger in the Hibs goal.

Robbie Muirhead went into the game with four goals in six outings but he had an off day in front of goal.

The experienced striker was set up by Andy Winter after the break as the hosts chased an equaliser but he failed to get a shot away from a promising position.

Livingston's first shot on target came after 54 minute but even that was a tame effort from outside the box from Scott Pittman that was easily collected by Sallinger.

Euro boost

This result and performance ticked all the right boxes for Hibs boss David Gray ahead of Thursday’s Conference League play-off first leg visit of Legia Warsaw.

As well as giving much needed game time to some of his squad as they booked a quarter-final against Rangers, it also meant there was a well earned rest for others who needed it.

The likes of Bowie, Chris Cadden and Rocky Bushiri also watched on from the bench without being needed.