Livingston finished off a remarkable first season in the Scottish Premier
League by grabbing third spot courtesy of a 3-2 win over Hearts.
Their victory, and Aberdeen's defeat against Celtic, meant the top flight
newcomers leapfrogged the Pittodrie men on the last day of the season.
The West Lothian side, playing some neat football and with the classy David
Fernandez in fine form, were well worth the three points in a game which was
entertaining enough if lacking in quality football.
It was the home side who nearly took the lead as early as the third minute
when striker Ricardo Fuller made a run deep into the visitors' defence before
cutting the ball back for Stephane Adam whose flick sent the ball goalwards.
However, Livingston defender Marvin Andrews popped up and cleared the ball.
Moments later at the other end, Livingston striker Barry Wilson went on a run
before firing in a shot from 20 yards which Hearts keeper Roddy McKenzie saved
comfortably.
In the 12th minute Hearts keeper McKenzie pulled off a great save from David
Xausa after the Canadian had powerfully volleyed a Lee Makel cross towards the
top corner.
The West Lothian side looked dangerous going forward and should have taken the
lead after 19 minutes.
Fernandez broke clear on the right and squared the ball to Francisco Quino who
looked to have the easiest of tasks but the Spaniard miskicked from 12 yards
out, allowing McKenzie to recover and save.
Fernandez, the subject of ongoing transfer speculation, was impressing with
his pace and mobility and the home defence were never allowed time to settle on
the ball.
But the game was flowing back and forth and Flogel, making his last appearance
for the Edinburgh side, tried his luck with a 25-yard effort but the ball flew
well over the visitors' crossbar.
Livingston came out for the second half determined to turn their neat passing
and good midfield play into goals.
But the opening stages were rather sedate with neither keeper being troubled.
That was to change quite dramatically when the Tynecastle men increased their
work-rate and took the lead in the 50th minute after Livingston keeper Broto had
flapped at a corner from Joe Hammill.
The ball was cleared off the line by Quino but Ricardo Fuller was on hand to
force the ball into the net from close range.
But barely two minutes later the visitors equalised and once again it was due
to a goalkeeper's error.
Quino shot at McKenzie from 12 yards and the keeper somehow managed to let the
ball go over his head and then tried in vain to claw it back.
The game then stepped up a bit in its intensity as both sides went for goal
although too often it was via route one.
There was plenty of brawn and commitment on show and consequently the deft
touches of Fernandez shone like a beacon.
On the hour mark Adam, who had made little impact, made a good run into the
heart of the visitors' defence but his clever, chipped shot from outside the box
was just too high to beat Broto.
It looked as if the next goal would be the winner and it was the visitors who
grabbed it in the 72nd minute.
Makel cut the ball back from the byline and the grateful substitute David
Bingham, on for David Xausa seven minutes earlier, had a simple tap-in to an
empty goal.
As the game drew to a close it was the visitors who looked more dangerous on
the break and almost inevitably Wilson added a third in the 87th minute with the
aid of a wicked deflection off Hearts midfielder Scot Severin.
With seconds remaining of the 90 minutes, the home side pulled one back with a
penalty from substitute Stevie Fulton who had come on for Tommy Gronlund.
Teams:
Hearts: McKenzie, Maybury, McKenna, Tod, McCann,
Flogel (Simmons 83), Severin, Gronlund (Fulton 71), Hamill,
Fuller, Adam (Wales 81).
Subs Not Used: Niemi, Milne.
Booked: Flogel.
Goals: Fuller 51, Fulton 90 pen.
Livingston: Broto, Brinquin, Andrews, Rubio, Santini,
Makel (Tosh 75), Lovell, Quino, Wilson, Fernandez (Caputo 84),
Xausa (Bingham 65).
Subs Not Used: McEwan, Hart.
Booked: Makel.
Goals: Quino 53, Bingham 72, Wilson 87.
Att: 10,223
Ref: H Dallas (Scotland).
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