Miller adds a finishing touch

Livingston (0) 1 Hearts (0) 2

Lee Miller's first goal for Hearts, a point-blank header from Joe Hamill's cross four minutes from time, deepened the gloom for Richard Gough's Livingston. Having taken only one point from their last seven outings, the SPL's bottom club, who travel to Ibrox on Saturday, look odds-on for demotion.

Gough made six changes from the side which capitulated against Inverness here on Saturday to offer more protection for his porous defence.

They were helped that their visitors are also operating under reduced circumstances these days. John Robertson's side has been weakened by the protracted takeover of Vladimir Romanov, whose promises of Jam Tarts tomorrow has provided little in the way of sustenance.

The downsizing manifested itself in Robertson's starting line-up, which featured 11 Scots, to Livingston's four. Gough, whose club is still in administration, has responded by bringing in five new players – three Hungarians and two Englishmen – on short-term arrangements.

Composure and quality were in short supply from both sides, unfortunately, and the first goalmouth incident of note didn't arrive until the 32nd minute when Andy Webster headed Robbie Neilson's cross narrowly wide.

Celtic target Paul Hartley was the one player who looked as though he may provide a touch of the unexpected but too often he found himself making passes for team-mates who didn't seem to be on the same wavelength.

Even when, in the 50th minute, his meandering solo run ended with a shot which ricocheted perfectly into the path of Stephen Simmons the midfielder completely miscued, missing the target by yards.

Burton O'Brien was the only player fulfilling a similar function for the home side, acting as both outlet for his defence and supplier of ammunition to his strikers. Like Hartley, though, his efforts were undermined by the ineptitude of his team-mates.

When the breakthrough arrived, 16 minutes from the end, O'Brien was at the heart of it. The South African's chip into the penalty area was blatantly handled by Jamie McCallister and, while the visiting defenders froze, waiting for the referee's whistle, substitute Derek Lilley rolled the loose ball into the empty net.

Hartley was not to be outdone: when Craig Easton earned a caution for a crude foul on him, he curled the free-kick from 20 yards into the net in spite of Roddy McKenzie getting a hand to the ball.

Match details

Livingston (4-4-2): McKenzie; Dair, Dorado, Rubio, Bahoken (Stanic 63); Kriston (Easton 73), Wilson, Hand, O'Brien; Lilley, McPake (Horvath 77).
Subs: Meldrum (g), Vincze, Brittain, Snodgrass, Stanic.
Booked: Bahoken, Easton.
Hearts (4-4-2): Gordon; Neilson, Pressley, Webster (McKenna 72), McCallister; Simmons (Mikoliunas 67), McFarlane, Hartley, Hamill; Wyness (Thorarinsson 67), Miller.
Subs: Moilanen (g), Stewart, Berra, Elliot.
Booked: Webster.

Taken telegraph.co.uk/sport