LIVVY PILE ON THE HEARTACHE; LIVINGSTON...2 HEARTS..........0

Byline: KEVIN McALLION at Almondvale

LIVINGSTON took a massive stride towards Europe as they gunned down 10-man Hearts to go well clear in third place.

The Jambos impressive run of form was brought to an abrupt end as Livvy racked up a third straight league win over them thanks to second-half strikes from David Bingham and David Fernandez.

But Craig Levein's men, who missed a late penalty, were fighting an uphill battle after full-back Alan Maybury saw red in the first half for kicking out at Fernandez.

Several key players were missing from both sides thanks to Gold Cup commitments as Livvy tried to repeat their opening day success over the Jambos.

Hearts were without Canadian defender Kevin McKenna while Jim Leishman was minus McKenna's international team-mate David Xausa and Trinidad's Marvin Andrews.

Levein sent out the same settled side with Scott Severin deputising for McKenna at the back.

John Anderson and Michael Hart stepped into the breach for Livingston while Anderson was handed the task of keeping close tabs on Ricardo Fuller.

And the Jamaican striker, in fine form over the past few weeks, almost opened the scoring in the first minute.

Spanish defender Oscar Rubio dallied too long 20 yards from goal and Fuller nipped in to nick the ball from him and race in on Nick Culkin.

The hitman seemed a cert to score but Gary Bollan raced back to save the day with a brilliant sliding tackle.

All the chances were falling to the Jambos and Fuller should have fired his side ahead in 14 minutes.

Steve Fulton's chip was flicked on by Gary Wales and Fuller eluded Anderson in the box before flashing a strike well over.

The miss stung Livvy into action and David Bingham picked out Tosh on the edge of the box only for the midfielder's vicious strike to be deflected over.

Culkin needed to look sharp in 18 minutes with a great low save from Fulton's right-foot strike.

The off-form Rubio was booked in 27 minutes for clattering into Stephane Mahe.

The game burst into life after 32 minutes when Maybury saw red in a moment of madness.The Irishman tripped Fernandez and when the Spaniard went down dramatically he raced over to bawl at him and aimed a kick.

Leishman was raging and raced out of his dugout to have an angry exchange with Hearts assistant manager Peter Houston.

Ref Dougie McDonald flashed red at Maybury and yellow at Fernandez while a quiet word sorted out the warring coaches.

Jambos boss Levein sacrificed Wales for Stephen Simmons as he tried to put up the shutters.

The visitors almost snatched the lead on half-time when only a superb fingertip save from Culkin kept out Simmons' looping header from Fulton's free-kick.

Livvy inevitably took the initiative after the break and Fernandez almost opened the Jambos defence with a brilliant piece of skill in 50 minutes.

The hitman brilliantly killed Franciso Quino's long pass and in one movement flicked the ball into the path of Barry Wilson.

Steven Pressley was alive to the danger though and timed his block perfectly to stop the striker flashing a shot at goal.

But five minutes later Bingo fired Livvy ahead.

Phillipe Brinquin found the winger with a brilliant cushioned volley and he floated a header into the top right-hand corner from six yards.

Fuller went down in the box as he tried to skip past Rubio and Bollan but earned a booking although he seemed to innocently fall over the ball.

Levein's men had most of the pressure but Livvy made them pay in 67 minutes when Fernandez headed in the second from close range. Hearts were lucky not to go down to nine men in 75 minutes when sub Simmons appeared to raise his hands to Fernandez but was only booked.

Livvy should have had a penalty in the last minute when Wilson was sent crashing to the ground by Roddy McKenzie but the ref amazingly booked the striker.

Simmons wasted a chance for a late consolation when he shot a weak penalty at Culkin after Fuller had been brought down by Bollan.

Match Stats

Livingston

Fouls Committed 15

Shots on Target 3

Shots off Target 7

Offside 1

Corners 6

Hearts

Fouls Committed 12

Shots on Target 5

Shots off Target 7

Offside 3

Corners 9

REF WATCH ++

DOUGIE McDONALD produced a mixed bag of decisions, including some dodgy free-kicks. He was right to red card Alan Maybury for a kick on David Fernandez and to book Ricardo Fuller for diving in the box. But he made a shocking blunder by showing Barry Wilson yellow for diving when Livvy should have had a penalty. But the ref was right to give a penalty when Fuller was brought down by Garry Bollan. Rating: 5/10.

Taken from the Daily Record