Hearts were forced to settle for a point following an impressive late show from Livingston at Tynecastle.

The home side dominated much of the game and took the lead through Kevin McKenna but they were left rueing missed opportunities when Colin McMenamin levelled for Livi with 18 minutes to go and the Almondvale side had decent chances to snatch the win.

Hearts' status as the third force in Scottish football had never really seemed in doubt this season until last week's shock defeat to bottom side Partick.

All of a sudden, nearest rivals Dunfermline started making noises that they could snatch third spot from Craig Levein's men and the Jambos knew they had to get their campaign back on track.

That meant taking all three points from Livingston and to their credit, Hearts looked the most dangerous side from the outset and they found themselves ahead with just 18 minutes on the clock.

Steven Boyack was back in the starting line-up for the first time since the UEFA Cup tie against Zeljeznicar earlier in the season after finally recovering from a hernia operation and it was his corner which set up the opener.

He flighted the ball into the box and Christophe Berra took a slight touch before the ball fell to the feet of McKenna inside the six-yard box and all that was required from him was to slot home.

Hearts were clearly boosted by the goal but no-one more so than McKenna, and he proved to be a constant thorn in Livi's side for the remainder of the first half.

He could have added to his tally when Patrick Kisnorbo emerged from a scramble in the box with the ball and prodded into the path of McKenna but Roddy McKenzie was able to hold the shot this time.

Like so many other home games this season, the Hearts supporters used the visit of Livi to make their unhappiness at the current board known - this time holding up red cards during the game with Livingston also joining in.

Back on the park, McKenna was in the thick of the action again. This time Robbie Neilson tried to squeeze a shot at goal and that was cleared by McKenzie, but only as far as McKenna.

He tried his luck with the rebound from eight yards but Marvin Andrews managed to clear on the line to deny Hearts a second goal.

It was not surprising to see that it was McKenna who had the first real chance of the second half - he collected the ball just inside the 18-yard box before bulleting a shot at goal but the effort took a deflection and fell wide for a corner.

Hearts were keen to add to their slim advantage and they came close when Boyack flighted a long ball to Berra and he managed to rise above everyone else in the box only to nod just over the crossbar.

Livingston were allowing too many dangerous balls into the area and Andy Webster was able to pick out McKenna for another header but fortunately for Livi he was also off-target.

Hearts were stunned when Livingston managed to pull themselves back into the game after 73 minutes. A long clearance from McKenzie found McMenamin and he managed to shrug off Steven Pressley before firing home.

It was Livingston who looked most likely to take the lead when Lee Makel released David Fernandez and he went on a superb run only to see his shot blocked by goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

The Almondvale side created another decent chance when Fernandez found David McNamee out on the right wing and he tried to square into the path of Richard Brittain in front of goal but Pressley intercepted to clear the danger.

Teams

Hearts Gordon, Webster, Pressley, Berra (Severin 86), Neilson, Kisnorbo, MacFarlane (Hamill 90), Maybury, Kirk, McKenna, Boyack (Wyness 68).

Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Weir.

Goals: McKenna 18.

Livingston McKenzie, McNamee, Andrews, Dorado, McAllister, McGovern (Brittain 74), Makel, Lovell, McLaughlin, Fernandez, McMenamin (Snowdon 82).

Subs Not Used: Creer, Arthur, Walker.

Booked: McMenamin, McNamee.

Goals: McMenamin 73.

Att: 10,352

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).