Hearts 2 - 1 Livingston

ROB ROBERTSON at Tynecastle February 28 2005

HEARTS made it into the Scottish Cup semi-final after two early goals destroyed Livingston, although John Robertson's side took the foot of the gas in the second half and nearly allowed Richard Gough's team back into the game.

Robertson said afterwards he was keen to avoid Celtic in this evening's cup draw and felt the managers of Dundee United and Hibernian would be feeling the same.

For Livingston to have taken anything from Tynecastle would have been an injustice considering their dreadful first-half performance. A lot of the blame for that must be placed on Gough as his tactics were all over the place early on.

His experiment of playing the central defender, Greg Strong, as his target man was abandoned after only 12 minutes. By that time the damage was done and Hearts were two goals up.

Goals from Lee Miller and Jamie McAllister within the first 10 minutes put Hearts in the driving seat, although a controversial goal from Craig Easton gave his side a bit of hope. For them to be even in with a shout as the game progressed was extraordinary considering their start.

Gough defended his tactics and starting 11, believing he needed to freshen things up in attack.

"We have not been creating many chances and Greg played up front in his last four games with Boston United," said the Livingston coach.

"However Plan A backfired and we were two goals down in 10 minutes. I decided to go

for broke by putting on three substitutes at half-time and the boys did come back well, but it wasn't enough."

A first minute header from Miller, who turned in a McAllister free-kick, set Hearts on their way. Eight minutes later McAllister scored against his old club when he converted a fine cross from Saulius Mikoliunas.

It was lucky for Hearts that Miller was on form because Mark Burchill, in his first start for the club, squandered a couple of chances to kill the game before the break.

At least Gough had the guts to admit the error of his team selection and made three half-time changes. The Macedonian defender, Goran Stanic as well as the Hungarian duo Gabor Vincze and Ferenc Horvath did their best to inspire a revival as second-half substitutes, but they came up short.

Livingston got a consolation goal through Easton during their most impressive period of play. James McPake, who was flagged offside, was adjudged not to be interfering with play by the referee, Alan Freeland.

With the Hearts defence acknowledging the linesman's flag they hesitated and allowed Jason Dair to deliver a cross which was turned in by Easton.

From then on in it was end-to-end stuff. A better side than Livingston would have taken advantage of Hearts' second-half malaise and Robertson's side can count themselves lucky it was the bottom club in the Bank of Scotland Premier League they were playing.

Dair went close with a free-kick near the end and Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon was given a warning for time wasting as they hung on for victory.

Despite the second-half rally by Livingston, Robertson said his side had deserved to win.

"I felt we could have been five or six goals up at half-time," said Robertson. "Although Livingston came back into it

I still feel we were worthy of the victory."

"Like the three managers outwith Martin O'Neill we would like to avoid Celtic in the semi-finals. Dundee United were brilliant against Aberdeen, Hibs have been great all season and Celtic, are well, Celtic so none of the semi-final ties are foregone conclusions."

McAllister, who scored his first goal for Hearts in the game, said the players had been told before kick-off that Strong would be playing up front.

"The gaffer knew that was going on and when we were told I thought it was a strange team selection," said McAllister, who lost two teeth in a challenge Gabor Vincze.

"I felt we deserved to win and it will be good to go back to Hampden for another semi-final."

Livingston now have their fight against relegation to concentrate on with Hearts hoping their route into the UEFA Cup for a third year in a row can come via the Scottish Cup.

Hearts Gordon, Webster, Miller, Hartley, Neilson, McAllister, Simmons (MacFarlane 64), Berra, Burchill (Wyness 82), Mikoliunas (Cesnauskis 77), Wallace. Subs: Moilanen, Kizys. Booked Berra, Webster
Livingston Meldrum, McNamee, Bahoken (Stanic 45), Deloumeaux, Strong, Dair, Easton, Mark Wilson (Vincze 45), Lilley (Horvath 45), O'Brien, McPake. Subs: McKenzie, Hand. Booked Vincze, Horvath
Referee A Freeland

Taken from the Herald