Hearts learn to use heads

STUART BATHGATE AT ALMONDVALE

Livingston 2 Makel (5), McMenamin (56)
Hearts 3 De Vries (25), Kirk (46), McKenna (83)

A FIRST-EVER league win at Almondvale gave a massive boost to Hearts’ hopes of finishing third in the SPL. Now nine points clear of fourth-placed Dunfermline, they will stretch that advantage to a round dozen should they win at East End Park on Saturday, and that surely will be enough for them to secure an automatic qualifying slot for Europe.

They refused to make life easy for themselves, though, and looked decidedly out of sorts early on as they conceded an early goal. Inspired, however, by Phil Stamp, an early substitute for Paul Hartley, they fought their way back into a lead, and, although Livingston equalised, a late winner from the head of Kevin McKenna secured the points for Craig Levein’s side.

The win came at a price, with Hartley, Stamp and Mark de Vries picking up or aggravating knocks, but all three should be available for the showdown in Fife. Levein later expressed his pleasure at the mental strength shown by his side, who will surely go into that match with confidence high.

Both teams have benefited recently from consistency of selection, and Hearts’ starting line-up showed two changes from the 11 who had started against Dundee United, with Neil MacFarlane coming in for Stamp in midfield and Andy Kirk partnering Mark de Vries up front in place of Dennis Wyness. Livingston replaced injured wing-back Jamie McAllister with striker Colin McMenamin.

The opening stages of the game were decidedly one-sided, with Livingston requiring only five minutes to establish a lead.McMenamin skipped past two opponents and was brought down by Steven Pressley just outside the box. The resultant free-kick was curled by Lee Makel into the bottom right corner of the Hearts net. Slowly, Hearts made their way back into the match, and with almost 20 minutes on the clock a snapshot on the run from De Vries went just wide of Roddy McKenzie’s goal.

Just as they were getting into their rhythm, the Edinburgh side were forced into a change, Stamp on for Paul Hartley. Earlier in the season such a change would not have been perceived as a weakening of Hearts’ line-up, but Hartley has been the team’s key player of late.

Curiously, though, it was not long before Hearts were level. McKenna picked up the ball some 40 yards out, and from the Canadian’s drifted cross De Vries stole between two defenders to head home. Then, as half-time approached, Hearts had two opportunities to take the lead.

First Kirk, perhaps surprised not to be flagged offside, directed a soft header almost straight at McKenzie when he had the time to bring the ball down. Then Stamp carried to the edge of the box before unleashing a low drive which was just off target.

In the only minute of stoppage time, Kirk had an even better chance and his dipping shot from the edge of the box could not be faulted, but McKenzie was well positioned to tip the Ulsterman’s effort over the bar and the sides went in level.

A minute after the restart, Hearts did take the lead - and the same two players were involved. Stamp, visibly growing in confidence every time he took possession, set off on another run and fired in another shot from more than 30 yards out. McKenzie did well to get is hands to it but was unable to collect, and the rebound fell to Kirk who first-timed it into the net from the edge of the six-yard box.

The way the match was going, that might have been the sign for Hearts to take complete control, but instead Livingston made their way back into it. Ten minutes into the second period McMenamin was mocked by the away support when he twice failed to find the net after being ruled offside. A minute later, the Livingston striker got his own back by scoring his team’s second goal.

A ball up to David Fernandez was partially dealt with by Andy Webster, but the Spaniard recovered possession near the corner flag. Although closely shepherded by Pressley, Fernandez sent in a teasing cross to the back post, and Makel’s knockdown was side-footed in by McMenamin.

With a point probably being more acceptable to Hearts than to Livingston, curiously it was Hearts who came closer to regaining their lead with a hasty shot from McKenna who should at least have been on target.

The introduction of Wyness for De Vries provided Hearts with more pace up front if less of an aerial threat. That threat remained, however, at set-pieces, and with seven minutes left McKenna found space in a ruck of bodies to head in a corner from Robert Sloan.

Fernando Pasquinelli had a chance to equalise in the last minute of stoppage time, but he snatched his shot wide.

Livingston: McKenzie; McNamee, Andrews, Rubio, Dorado; Makel, Lovell, O’Brien; McMenamin (Pasquinelli 77), Lilley, Fernandez. Subs not used: Main, McGovern, McLaughlin, Brittain.

Hearts: Gordon; Pressley, McKenna, Webster; Neilson, MacFarlane (Sloan 66), Kisnorbo, Hartley (Stamp 21), Maybury; De Vries (Wyness 69), Kirk. Subs not used: Moilanen, Janczyk.

Referee: I Fyfe. Attendance: 4,450


Taken from the Scotsman