RIX HAILS HIS ROMAN 'EMPIRE'

Hearts head coach Graham Rix praised Roman Bednar after the Czech striker helped the Gorgie boss to his first Bank of Scotland Premier League win against Livingston at Tynecastle.

The 22-year-old started his first match for the Jambos since requiring knee surgery after injuring himself against Rangers in September.

It was Bednar's fellow countryman Rudi Skacel who grabbed a first-half double to give the home side a comfortable lead, although Livi midfielder Allan Walker's strike after the break led to a nervous finale for the Edinburgh men.

After two draws in his first two fixtures as boss at Aberdeen and Motherwell, Rix witnessed Bednar add presence and no little skill to the Gorgie attack alongside young Calum Elliot and the Czech striker was unfortunate not to get his name on the scoresheet on a couple of occasions before he was eventually replaced late on by Michal Pospisil.

An appreciative Rix said: "I thought Roman did really well. He was tired at the end and he took a knock but he's okay.

"That's his first game for two months or something like that so it was always going to be difficult for him.

"Young Calum Elliot also put in a great shift for me in attack, I'm really pleased for the kid.

"I thought we got the victory with a certain amount of style, played some good stuff and created a lot of chances.

"We came out of the traps flying and I'm delighted for the lads and the supporters.

"The boys have worked really hard for me in the last three weeks without necessarily getting the rewards so I'm pleased for them."

Livingston manager Paul Lambert refused to be too downbeat despite yet another defeat which keeps them bottom of the table.

He said: "Other than the two games against Kilmarnock, who beat us convincingly, there has been no problem with the effort, the spirit and the way we have played.

"Sometimes you need a break in football but if we keep going then we'll be fine."

Livingston striker James McPake reiterated his manager's confidence that the Almondvale men will soon start turning decent performances into points.

He said: " Everyone is upbeat and we're not worrying.

"It was the same as a lot of games this season, more often than not we've not just deserved a point, we've deserved to win.

"It's just not been happening for us but it is going to turn.

"We thought it had against Dunfermline when we beat them a couple of weeks ago but it will come.

"We're gutted that we're not getting the wins but at least we are not doing everything wrong."

Taken from sportinglife.com