Hearts failed to grab the opportunity to take another step towards European
football next season when they were held to a draw by Livingston.
A Phil Stamp goal gave them an early lead at Almondvale and they had chances
to kill the game off and extend their lead in third place in the table over
nearest rivals Kilmarnock to six points.
But Hearts were forced to settle for a point when Livi hit back through
substitute Oscar Rubio.
The local rivalry between Hearts and Livingston may not have reached the
levels of fever pitch on show between Celtic and Rangers earlier in the day but
both sides were still determined to secure all three points.
It was Livingston who started the stronger and they had chances to take an
early lead through Eugene Dadi but they failed to make that pressure count and,
instead, it was Hearts who opened the scoring.
A poor attempt at a clearance by Gustave Bahoken was pounced upon by Stamp and
he bulleted the ball home from just inside the area after only seven minutes.
Craig Levein's men were clearly lifted by the goal and the enjoyed the best of
the chances throughout the remainder of the opening 45 minutes.
Jean-Louis Valois presided over the Edinburgh side's first corner of the game
and he almost set up Kevin McKenna after 19 minutes but his header was cleared
by the Livingston defence.
Seconds later, the quick skills of Marvin Andrews prevented Gary Wales trying
his luck with a close-range effort when the big defender intercepted to clear
the danger on the edge of the six-yard box.
Only the heroics of Livingston goalkeeper Alan Main stopped Hearts from
finding the back of the net again after 32 minutes.
Scott Severin supplied a long throw-in which was met by Wales and he drove the
ball at goal from the corner of the six-yard box but Main pounced to block the
effort.
Seconds later, the former St Johnstone keeper was called into action again -
this time to deny McKenna's scrambled shot.
Livingston manager Jim Leishman made two changes at half-time, Bahoken and
Dadi making way for Rubio and Davide Xausa. Xausa had the opportunity to make an
early impact on the game just four minutes after the restart when he was
released into the area by Rolando Zarate but the Canadian fired into the
side-netting.
Livingston were enjoying the best of the chances and a long ball from Rubio
almost set up Andrews for the leveller but his header was comfortably held by
goalkeeper Tepi Moilanen.
Valois pounced on a mistake by Rubio before embarking on a run down the left
flank but he left it late before supplying the cross for Wales by which time
Main was off his line to block.
There was concern for the visitors when the clash with the Livi goalkeeper
left Wales needing treatment but he was able to continue.
Livingston had been looking more dangerous after the break and a set-piece
allowed them to claw their way back to level terms. Makel's corner was met by
Rubio, and he made amends for his earlier blunder, when he bulleted a header
past Moilanen after 61 minutes.
The first booking of the game came with 15 minutes remaining when Colin
McMenamin was cautioned, just five minutes after replacing Zarate, for a
reckless challenge on Austin McCann.
Hearts had a chance with three minutes to go when Severin met Valois' corner
only for his header to be blocked by the Livi defence.
Seconds later, Stamp was lucky to remain on the park when he appeared to lash
out at Xausa but referee Alan Freeland opted to show the yellow card instead of
red.
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