Hearts move 20 points clear in Scottish Championship after 1-0 win over LIvingston

Hearts moved 20 points clear at the top of the Scottish Championship as they continued their inexorable march back to the Premiership with a 1-0 win over lowly Livingston.

The home side had beaten the same opponents 3-2 at Almondvale last weekend - in a match notable for Jason Talbot's high challenge on Sam Nicholson - and again they were made to sweat by Mark Burchill's men, the excellent Jamie Walker's first-half strike settling the issue.  

Livingston's Jordan White had the first sight of goals as he volleyed narrowly wide from the edge of the box. 

The home side quickly found their feet and neat link-up play between Walker and Genero Zeefuik culminated in the former working Darren Jamieson in the Livi goal.

The lively Walker teed up James Keatings who forces a great one hand save from Jamieson but it was the bottom side who were to go closest to the opener as Callum Fordyce saw his header cleared off the line following a corner.

But the leaders forged ahead five minutes before the break as Walker got the break of the ball in the box, but he latched onto the rebound and tucked into the roof from close range.

Keatings forced a great save from close range as the visitors continued to be pinned back in the second half, then Prince Buaben worked some space but failed to find the requisite finish.

Craig Sives had Neil Alexander at full stretch to push his effort over the bar as Livi battled back but their chances seemed to disappear down the tunnel with Nejc Praprotnik - ordered off after collecting a second yellow card.

Zeefuik had a glorious chance to settle home nerves but fired straight at the keeper when clean through and although the 10-men continued to battle they could not conjure an unlikely leveller.