Livingston 2 Hearts 1

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Livingston's introduction to the Scottish Premier League got off to a flying start with a fine 2-1 home win over Hearts.

In the 33rd minute David Fernandez crossed from the left, came through a clutch of players and found Francisco Quino, who had the easiest of tasks to knock in from close range.

It was Fernandez himself who double the home side's lead in 62 minutes with a tremendous shot from the edge of the Hearts box.

Livingston looked comfortable for the remainder of the second period and although Colin Cameron pulled a goal back for the visitors with only a minute remaining, it was too little too late.

It was the Edinburgh men who nearly took an early lead after only 30 seconds when striker Gary Wales' shot from the edge of the box was headed over the bar by Livingston defender Gary Bollan when a goal looked likely.

The home side weathered the early storm and began to mount some attacks of their own in an opening period when play swung from end to end.

The visitors forced a couple of corners in the 10th minute but the Livingston defence held firm although keeper Javier Broto was reluctant catch the ball and instead opted to punch at every opportunity.

In the early stages the visitors looked more likely to make the breakthrough with strikers Stephane Adam and Wales causing problems.

In the 18th minute Broto had to react well to save at close range from Adam as the home side's defending became increasingly desperate.

In the 28th minute Adam's effort from the edge of the box just screamed over the Livingston crossbar with keeper Broto well beaten.

Despite their superiority the visitors could not get the opener and were stunned in the 33rd minute when Livingston raced up the park and took the lead.

When a cross came in from the left from Fernandez, Quino was first to react and netted from close range for a simple debut goal.

It was a shock for the Edinburgh men and suddenly it was Livingston who playing with added confidence.

Hearts came out for the second half determined to get on level terms as quickly as possible but founds their hosts equally focused with Fernandez's pace down the right hand side causing the Edinburgh men all sorts of problems.

In the 50th minute Robert Tomaschek put defender Robbie Neilson through but the youngster's first touch was clumsy and the ball bounced into the arms of a grateful Broto.

Minutes later Hearts midfielder Cameron drove at the Livingston goal but his effort from 25 yards was weak and went well wide of the right-hand post.

It was exciting stuff at times and at the other end Hearts keeper Antti Niemi had to pull off a great save from Fernandez after the striker waltzed through the Hearts defence to shoot from 12 yards out.

Fernandez was looking increasingly confident on the ball and came close moments later with a shot from the edge of the box which went narrowly past the right-hand post.

However, there was to be no stopping the Spaniard and in the 62nd minute he doubled the home side's lead with a tremendous individual goal.

The ex-Airdrie man picked up the ball at the edge of the box, side-stepped a couple of weak tackles, and unleashed an unstoppable shot past Niemi.

The Edinburgh men looked drained of all confidence now and struggled to get back into the game.

Livingston looked calm and in control and although they lost a late Cameron goal they played out time for a well deserved opening-day victory.

Teams:

Livingston: Sanchez-Broto, Brinquin, Andrews, Rubio, Bollan, Wilson (Tosh 74), Quino, Lovell, Bingham, Fernandez (Caputo 84), Xausa (Keith 77).

Subs Not Used: McEwan, Hart.

Booked: Bollan, Tosh.

Goals: Quino 34, Fernandez 63.

Hearts: Niemi, Neilson (Boyack 66), Pressley, Mckenna, McCann (Simmons 78), Severin, Cameron, Tomaschek, Fulton, Adam, Wales (McSwegan 56).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Webster.

Booked: Adam, Fulton.

Goals: Cameron 89.

Att: 8,321

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com