Hearts 3 Livingston 1

By Lisa Gray, PA Sport

Livingston caretaker-manager Davie Hay suffered his first defeat in charge as Hearts fought back from a goal down to take all three points in a thrilling game at Tynecastle.

The West Lothian side had taken the lead through Derek Lilley seven minutes after the break.

But Tynecastle striker Mark de Vries fired a shot at goal, which took a touch off Andy Kirk on the way into the back of the net 15 minutes later.

Northern Ireland international Kirk claimed that goal before bulleting home with five minutes remaining to give the Jambos the lead.

Captain Steven Pressley then ensured all three points would stay at Tynecastle when he converted an injury-time penalty after de Vries had been brought down by David McNamee.

Kirk had emerged as a goal-threat for Hearts in recent games - after netting twice against Partick Thistle and grabbing the winner against Falkirk midweek - and it was the Irish striker who almost opened the scoring against Livi.

He was set up for the shot by de Vries after just six minutes but the effort was held by goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie.

Hearts were handed a great opportunity to take the lead when Oscar Rubio hauled down Kirk just outside the area and referee Stuart Dougal awarded a free-kick.

Jean-Louis Valois took the set-piece and was unlucky to see the effort curl just wide of the post.

Livi were forced into an unplanned change after just 24 minutes when Emmanuel Dorado picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Juanjo Camacho.

Burton O'Brien then released the substitute out on the left wing and he spotted David Fernandez unmarked in the box.

The Spanish hitman bulleted a header at goal but young Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon pulled off a great save to tip the effort over the crossbar and keep the scoreline level.

Hay made his second change at half-time when Fernandez was replaced by John-Paul McGovern.

But the breakthrough came six minutes after the re-start and it was Livingston who took the lead.

Lee Makel squared a great ball into the path of Lilley just a few yards out and he chested the ball into the back of the net, leaving Gordon with little chance.

Livingston almost doubled their lead on the hour mark when Gordon was forced into action to save an impressive drive from Camacho.

The Hearts keeper spilled the ball but managed to recover before the on-rushing McGovern could create any problems for the home side.

Seconds later, it was McKenzie's turn to display his goalkeeping skills when Stephen Simmons tested him with a decent shot just two minutes after replacing Valois.

Confusion reigned after 66 minutes when Kerr fired the ball into the area and both Lilley and Stuart Lovell went for the shot and the opportunity was wasted.

Instead, it was Hearts who found the back of the net a minute later when de Vries did well to hold off the Livi defence before firing the shot at goal, which Kirk looked to have got a slight touch to.

De Vries showed the he could be useful at the other end of the park too when he prevented Livingston reclaiming their lead.

Camacho's corner was met by Marvin Andrews but his header was blocked and fell to the feet of Oscar Rubio only for his rebound shot to be cleared off the line by the Dutch striker.

With just five minutes remaining, Hearts surged into the lead when Kirk met a Patrick Kisnorbo throw-in before bulleting the ball past helpless Livingston goalkeeper McKenzie.

An injury time penalty - after de Vries was brought down by David McNamee - was converted by skipper Steven Pressley to secure all three points.

Teams

Hearts Gordon, Pressley, McKenna, Severin, Stamp, de Vries, Kirk, Valois (Simmons 60), Neilson (McMullan 55), Hartley (Wyness 75), Kisnorbo.

Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Maybury.

Booked: Stamp, Pressley.

Goals: de Vries 67, Kirk 85, Pressley 90 pen.

Livingston McKenzie, McNamee, Rubio, Andrews, Dorado (Camacho 25), Fernandez (McGovern 45), Makel, O'Brien, Lilley, Lovell, Kerr.

Subs Not Used: Montgomery, Scott, Walker.

Booked: Fernandez, Lovell, McNamee.

Goals: Lilley 52.

Att: 11,233

Ref: S Dougal (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com