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Hibernian moved to within a point of second-top Rangers in the Scottish Championship with victory over bottom side Livingston.

Scott Robertson guided in an early opener and, although Myles Hippolyte levelled with a fine volley, Jason Cummings restored the lead.

Livi were reduced to 10 men when Darren Cole received a second yellow card.

Dylan McGeouch then had a controversial penalty saved before Dominique Malonga tucked in the visitors' third.

Alan Stubbs' men are now seven points clear of Queen of the South with two games to play, meaning the Easter Road side will finish no lower than third in the division.

They host second-bottom Alloa Athletic on Saturday, while Rangers welcome Falkirk to Ibrox.

The teams finishing third and fourth will meet over two legs to decide who meets the division's runners-up in the play-off semi-final double-header.

The winner will then meet the team finishing second-bottom in the Premiership, again over two legs, with a place in the top flight the prize.

Hibs, having lost their Scottish Cup semi-final against Falkirk on Saturday, appeared determined not to let their Hampden disappointment derail their league ambitions and quickly moved ahead.

McGeouch slipped a pass through for Robertson on the run and the midfielder carried the ball beyond Darren Jamieson.

Mark Burchill's men responded when Brad Donaldson's long ball went over the head of Jordon Forster and Hippolyte finished emphatically.

However, parity did not last long as Cummings found space in the box and forced the ball home at the second attempt after having an initial effort blocked.

It got worse for the hosts when Cole saw red following his second yellow card and the Livi players were further aggrieved in the second half when referee Andrew Dallas awarded a spot-kick.

Kyle Jacobs appeared to win the ball when he tackled McGeouch, who stepped up to take the penalty only to be foiled by Jamieson.

However, a third Hibs goal did arrive when Malonga latched on to Fraser Fyvie's long ball, dribbled his way towards the six-yard box then finished at the goalkeeper's right-hand post.

The result leaves Livingston, who could have drawn level with Alloa had they won, four points from safety with two games remaining.