Lions switch to Euro after vital win over Hearts

A CHANGE in the Livingston party line dictates that it’s now okay to talk about Europe - and not before time.

Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Hearts extended the Almondvale outfit’s lead over the Jambos to nine points and confirmed their status as overwhelming favourites to qualify for next season’s UEFA Cup.

The last time the Capital club came calling, the Lions earned an historic 2-1 victory in their very first Premier League fixture back in July.

Few could have thought that nearly six months later the new boys would be sitting comfortably in third place in the table. The three points bagged that summer’s afternoon were, we were told, the first steps towards gleaning a total which would stave off the threat of relegation.

Despite subsequent performances which saw them hold their own against both Rangers and Celtic and demonstrate real flair, invention and deadliness against the likes of Kilmarnock and Aberdeen, the mantra coming out of Almondvale maintained that survival was the priority. Eventually, boss Jim Leishman was forced to acknowledge that a quick return to the First Division was not on the cards and admitted he’d like his side to "sneak into the top six".

Given that the Lions had already made it to third in the table, that target seemed a tad unambitious but, of course, all the manager was doing was trying to keep his players’ feet on the ground.

Two weeks ago, one squad member described the prospect of Europe as "pie in the sky". Now, just a single league win later, first-team coach John Robertson has led the clamour to declare that the West Lothian side hope to be digging out their passports next term.

The club message has been transformed, but for he first time this season, you don’t feel the need add a pinch of salt to the words.

"We’re not dreaming about Europe now, it’s a realistic target," said Robertson.

"We’re in a position which any team outwith the Old Firm would love to be in with 14 matches to go and we have to make sure that we stay there.

"We’ve done the hard part in getting into third place and now we have to consolidate. We’ve got the chance to turn a great season into a fantastic season."

Given the importance of the game, Saturday’s encounter was understandably hard fought, but it turned on one particular first-half flashpoint.

With the game still deadlocked, Hearts full-back Alan Maybury was sent off for aiming a kick at David Fernandez near the Hearts dug-out.

Jambos boss Craig Levein insisted the award was unfair as Maybury had made contact with the ball and claimed he hadn’t heard referee Dougie McDonald’s whistle for his preceding foul on the Spaniard.

Nevertheless, with the ball in his arms, Fernandez was knocked on to the track well after the official’s whistle had gone.

McDonald felt he had only one option and the way in which the Livingston players angrily leapt to the defence of their man illustrated how they felt about the challenge.

Maybury was sent to the dressing-room, Fernandez got booked for his part in the ensuing melee and Leishman and Hearts assistant Peter Houston received a lecture for contesting their own heated exchange.

Until the incident, Hearts had been the better side and were inevitably hindered by the loss of the full-back.

It wasn’t until after the interval that the home side took the initiative, but the opening goal was a peach, the move being started by a superb diagonal pass from Quino in the 54th minute.

Philippe Brinquin met the ball near the byline and his cushioned volley back across goal was met by David Bingham, who nodded past Roddy McKenzie.

The goal was Bingham’s third in two games, a ratio which could prove a useful bargaining tool as he seeks an acceptable contract offer from the club.

The move for the second was also started by Quino, who again found Brinquin on the right flank, the Frenchman galloping forward before firing in a vicious cross which Fernandez bravely threw himself at and headed into the net in the 66th minute. The Spaniard has proved a real thorn in the side of the Gorgie men, netting four times in the sides’ three meetings this season.

He was always in the thick of the action at the weekend and was again the best outfield player on show.

However, he was eventually substituted for his own protection in the wake of some robust challenges.

Between goals there was further controversy when Ricardo Fuller was unfairly booked for diving in the box, the Jamaican appearing to merely lose his balance.

McDonald was even more culpable as the game drew to a close when Barry Wilson raced beyond the visitors’ defence and was brought down by Roddy McKenzie inside the area.

The striker rose to his feet, expecting to be handed the chance to slot home a penalty, but was instead shown the yellow card by the out-of-touch whistler.

The referee got it right in injury-time when he awarded the Jambos a penalty when Fuller was tripped by Rubio.

However, Simmons’ spot-kick was saved by Nick Culkin, the keeper capping a fine afternoon’s work by holding the midfielder’s tame shot to his left.

The on-loan shotstopper had earlier made top-drawer saves to deny Steve Fulton, Fuller and Stephane Adam.

With Leishman otherwise engaged, Robertson was sent in to meet the press and we had the unusual sight of he and Hearts boss Craig Levein sitting side-by-side as they conducted the post-match press conference.

The former Tynecastle team-mates were united in their belief that the referee’s decision on Maybury had helped changed the course of the game.

Robertson added: "I don’t think that was a dirty game - there were a couple of bad tackles but there was nothing malicious.

"Sometimes you need decisions to go for you and that happened for us and we managed to capitalise. To be honest, Hearts had the better of the game until the sending-off which was definitely the turning point.

"We scored two quality goals and worked hard for our win. I think the game showed all the good things about Scottish football."

Taken from the Scotsman