Livingston 2 Hearts 0

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Second half goals from David Bingham and David Fernandez gave Livingston victory over 10-man Hearts in an ugly Almondvale clash.

Livi full-back Phillipe Brinquin provided the ammunition for both goals in the 54th and 66th minutes respectively.

But the Tynecastle side had been let down by defender Alan Maybury who was dismissed for aiming a kick at Fernandez in the first half.

However, Hearts had their disappointment compounded when substitute Stephen Simmons missed a late penalty after a foul on Ricardo Fuller.

Hearts had the first chance of the game after two minutes when a pass from Livi full-back Gary Bollan confused team-mate Oscar Rubio just outside his own box.

The alert Fuller robbed the hesitant defender and made towards goal but the Livi defence quickly recovered and Bollan eventually snuffed out the threat.

At the other end, Hearts keeper Roddy McKenzie had to rush out of his goal to prevent Barry Wilson reaching a long pass out of defence.

The Edinburgh side, however, were looking dangerous when they moved upfield and Culkin did well to save a Steve Fulton shot after the midfielder had pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the box.

But there was drama in the 33rd minute when Maybury was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Fernandez.

Both players had clashed on the touch-line and, as the ball stuck underneath Fernadez, the Jambos' full-back viciously swung his boot taking both man and ball.

Referee Dougie MacDonald had no option but to dismiss the ex-Leeds player and then had to separate both benches as the game turned ugly.

Simmons replaced Gary Wales after Maybury was sent off and nearly made an early impact.

Culkin did well to flick the youngster's header over the bar after Fulton had swung in a great free-kick from the right.

The second half began in the same frantic fashion and, within a minute of the kick-off, Fernandez set up Steve Tosh who flashed a dangerous ball across the face of the Hearts goal.

There was no surprise, given their second half pressure, when the home side took the lead in the 54th minute although the high quality of the goal was not in keeping with the rest of the match.

Francisco Quino, picking the ball up just over the halfway line, swung a diagonal ball into the right hand side of the box.

The over-lapping Brinquin volleyed it to the back post where Bingham was unmarked and headed past McKenzie from six yards out.

It was a moment of sublime quality before both teams quickly got back to the scrapping and battling.

Then, in the 66th minute, the home side doubled their lead with an almost identical goal to their opener.

Brinquin once again crossed in from the right and this time it was Fernandez who sent a diving header home from close range.

The visitors began to lose their discipline, leaving huge gaps in their defence and only poor finishing prevented Livingston adding to their lead.

But Hearts suffered further agony in the final minute when Simmons tamely struck a penalty at Culkin after Fuller had been felled in the area.

Teams:

Livingston: Culkin, Brinquin, Rubio, Anderson, Bollan, Hart (Makel 84), Quino, Tosh, Bingham, Wilson, Fernandez (Lowndes 74).

Subs Not Used: McEwan, Caputo, Santini.

Booked: Rubio, Fernandez, Brinquin, Wilson.

Goals: Bingham 54, Fernandez 66.

Hearts: McKenzie, Maybury, Pressley, Webster, Mahe, Flogel, Severin, Gronlund (Adam 68), Fulton, Fuller, Wales (Simmons 38).

Subs Not Used: Gordon, Kirk, McCann.

Sent Off: Maybury (32).

Booked: Maybury, Fuller, Severin, Simmons, Fulton.

Att: 9,150

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com