Gary Holt hails perfect start as Livi claim first Premiership win

Gary Holt congratulates Egli Kaja at full time

First-half goals from Jack Hamilton and Alan Lithgow earned Livi their first Ladbrokes Premiership win two days after Holt arrived in West Lothian to replace departed player/manager Kenny Miller.

Holt left the Simple Digital Arena without talking to most of the waiting media after not realising what his post-match commitments were.

He otherwise enjoyed as smooth a reintroduction to the managerial hotseat as he could have imagined.

Saints did not have a shot on target and Livingston could have won by more than two goals as they outfought and outplayed their fellow Premiership newcomers.

Holt told BBC Scotland: “It’s the perfect start. It’s a better start than I had when I was at Falkirk and I was 3-0 up at half-time in a Scottish Cup semi-final and lost 4-3 after extra-time, so I had the highs and lows of that.

“To get a win in your first game is what you want, to see the boys trying to implement the wee things you have asked them to do and carrying on the good work we’ve done already is really pleasing.

“I asked them to play with a smile and enjoy your work because that’s what it is – work. It’s football but it’s your work. Enjoy it and play with a smile. I thought we got that.”

Holt’s next test comes on Saturday when Hibs visit the Tony Macaroni Arena.