Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiership

Livingston stay above Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership in sixth place after earning a point at Easter Road.

The visitors, who ended a run of four consecutive away defeats, went ahead when Ryan Hardie chased after a long pass and lifted over Adam Bogdan.

Florian Kamberi had a weak penalty saved by Liam Kelly before the hosts levelled when Ryan Porteous nodded in from a Daryl Horgan cross.

The goal means Hibs move up to seventh and are unbeaten in five games.

However, manager Neil Lennon will be disappointed by such a limp display after taking four points from back-to-back games against the Old Firm.

Hibs rewarded for stronger second half

Lennon made six changes from the midweek stalemate with Rangers, including a first start for Sean Mackie and just a second for Lewis Allan.

He would have hoped the pace of Martin Boyle, along with the talents of Emerson Hyndman and Vykintas Slivka, would have been enough to take control of the game.

When Hyndman sent Boyle through on goal, the swift wing-back looked set to open the scoring with a low, angled strike. However, not for the first time this term, Kelly pulled off a terrific fingertip save.

Livingston's strength this season has been at the back, with the trio of Craig Halkett, Alan Lithgow and Declan Gallagher receiving widespread plaudits.

But the visitors, who destroyed Hearts last weekend, once again showed they are no slouches up front with Hardie and Dolly Menga causing persistent problems.

Hardie in particular was a real handful for the hosts' back three. The on-loan Rangers striker linked up brilliantly with Menga and with a little more composure could have given his side the lead.

Lennon altered his attack at the break, with Oli Shaw being replaced by top scorer Kamberi. But it was Livingston who made the breakthrough 11 minutes after the restart.

Gallagher was too strong for Kamberi, then lofted a long, straight ball for Hardie to chase and clip over the advancing Bogdan.

The hosts were gifted a glorious opportunity to draw level on 70 minutes when Boyle was crudely upended by Lithgow after speeding on to an Efe Ambrose pass, but Kamberi's spot-kick lacked conviction and Kelly was able to push it away with ease.

The goalkeeper then made a better save to keep out a Kamberi header but eventually the Livingston defence gave way and substitute Horgan was the provider, flashing in a cross from the left for the stooping Porteous to nod in from eight yards.

Boyle, who will link up with the Australia squad for the Asian Cup after the Boxing Day game with Rangers, gave the home fans an indication of what they will be missing in the Edinburgh derby with a wonderful run from halfway before firing the ball just inches wide. He also had an effort stopped by the increasingly busy Kelly.

In between, there was a great chance for Livingston to regain the lead as Steve Lawson somehow prodded over with the goal at his mercy.

Liam Kelly saved Florian Kamberi's penalty before Hibs found an equaliser

'Kelly the hero for Livingston' - analysis

Livingston must surely be serious contenders for any 2018 team of the year. From the first whistle to the last, they battled for every ball and the midfield trio of Shaun Byrne, Keghan Jacobs and Scott Pittman were outstanding.

But the real hero was Kelly. His stop from Boyle in the first half was outstanding and he followed that with his second penalty save of the season.

Hibs boss Lennon, no doubt, will be seeking new recruits in January in attempt to bolster their position in the second half of the season.

There are frailties in the Hibs side that we have not witnessed in recent times and there is no doubt that if they are to achieve what Lennon wants, the board will have to back him.

'We switched off for some reason' - reaction

Hibernian head coach Neil Lennon: "We showed good character to come back. But it's an awful goal, just a straight ball.

"We've switched off for some reason and lost the ball in a good area again which I'm not happy about. The response was excellent."

Livingston head coach Gary Holt: "I thought it was an excellent game. We scored a great goal but then we rode our luck a little bit in the second half. Overall a point was probably a fair result.

"That's the same performance we've been putting in home and away and pleased we got some reward or our efforts. We stood up to the test and coped with the pressure."