Hearts 0 Livingston 0

Livingston had their second win of the Bank of Scotland Premier League season denied to them when referee Charlie Richmond ruled out a Jason Dair free-kick in the 26th minute.

The Livi midfielder slammed home a curling shot from 25 yards and ran off to celebrate with his team-mates only to see the official restarting the game with a goal-kick.

Referee Richmond had disallowed the goal because the set-piece had been awarded as an indirect free-kick after a high challenge by Michael Stewart on Jim Hamilton.

The home fans cheered as the embarrassed Livi players raced back into position, but there was little else for the Tynecastle fans to get excited about in a game that neither side did enough in to merit all three points.

Hearts never reached the heights of their terrific UEFA Cup performance against Braga in midweek but the visitors would have been glad enough to take a much-needed point.

The home side were almost off to a flier when on-form Paul Hartley, playing further forward than his normal midfield position alongside Dennis Wyness, found himself with the ball at his feet after a head flick by his strike partner with only a minute gone.

But it was too early in the game for the former Hibs player, who hesitated 12 yards from goal before being crowded out.

However, the home side started the game the better and, in the 25th minute, they won yet another free-kick 25 yards from goal.

But, this time, Hartley sent an arrowed drive just inches past Livi keeper Roddy McKenzie's right-hand post.

The visitors were handed a similar opportunity a minute later at the other end after Michael Stewart raised his feet, but the resultant free-kick award ended in chaos.

Referee Richmond signalled for an indirect kick, but Livi midfielder Jason Dair sent his shot over the wall and past the rooted Jambos' goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

There were cheers from the home fans as the Livingston players' celebration of Dair's 'goal' was halted by the sight of the official with his hand in the air and the game restarted with a goal-kick.

The visitors sensed there was a way though and, on the half-hour mark, Robert Snodgrass drew a tremendous reflex save from Gordon from point-blank range after skipper Stuart Lovell had set the youngster up.

But Hearts should have taken the lead in the 37th minute when midfielder Phil Stamp set up Wyness with an easy chance 10 yards out.

But the former Inverness striker's goal-bound shot struck McKenzie and went over the bar.

Right on the half-time whistle though, Livi midfielder Burton O'Brien crashed a 25-yard free-kick off Gordon's post as the visitors finished strongly.

In the 49th minute, however, the subdued Livi striker Hamilton, out of the blue, turned and sent a volley towards goal from 30 yards which nearly caught Gordon out.

The visitors again sprung into attack and Dair's lob found Hamilton wide on the left but his snatched left-footed shot went high over the bar.

The game was flowing from end to end and Maybury's snap-shot from just outside the box whistled past McKenzie's left-hand post.

The game heated up with Livi's Hamilton and Rubio finding their way into the book and there was a further injection of excitement in the game in the 57th minute when Hearts substitute Mark de Vries replaced the ineffective Wyness.

Just before the hour mark, Lovell tested Gordon with a 30-yard drive, but the keeper was equal to the task, diving low to his right to save.

Hearts came agonisingly close late on when Patrick Kisnorbo's header from a Maybury corner was cleared off the line at the far post by O'Brien.

Teams

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Maybury, Stewart, Kisnorbo, Hartley, McAllister (Hamill 65), Stamp (McKenna 79), Wyness (de Vries 57).

Subs Not Used: Moilanen, MacFarlane, Sloan, Berra.

Booked: Kisnorbo, Pressley, Stewart.

Livingston McKenzie, McNamee, Rubio, Dorado, Stanic, Dair, Easton, Lovell, O'Brien, Hamilton (Lilley 70), Snodgrass (McMenamin 78).

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Snowdon, Libbra, McLaughlin, Kernaghan.

Booked: Hamilton, Rubio, Dorado.

Att: 10,646

Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com