Livingston vs Hearts. Scottish Premiership.
Tony Macaroni ArenaAttendance6,393.
Match report as neither Livingston or Hearts are able to find the breakthrough; Third-place Hearts extend their unbeaten run; Livingston remain seven points behind in fourth place as they extended their own unbeaten run to six games in all competitions
Sunday 29 January 2023 20:53, UK
Hearts extended their unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions but Livingston proved once again to be a troublesome foe in a Scottish Premiership goalless draw at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
The match improved after a dull first half spoiled by the wind but, while the third-placed Jambos probably had more opportunities there was little between the sides and neither could get the breakthrough.
David Martindale's side have taken five points from nine against the Tynecastle club this season and remain seven points behind in fourth place - with a game in hand - as they extended their undefeated run to six games in all competitions.
The encounter between third and fourth in the cinch Premiership had promised more.
Robbie Neilson, who was in the stand once again as he completed a two-match touchline ban, dipped into his squad to reshuffle.
Stephen Kingsley, Orestis Kiomourtzoglou, Nathaniel Atkinson, Stephen Humphrys and Yutaro Oda all came in, the latter for his first start since signing from Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe.
Robert Snodgrass, Barrie McKay and Josh Ginnelly dropped to the bench with no sign of James Hill and Michael Smith.
Livingston, who had Sean Kelly and Stephane Omeonga back in midfield for Jason Holt and Andrew Shinnie, had no fears.
However, only three minutes had passed when Jambos captain Lawrence Shankland - eligible to play despite being sent off in last week's 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Hibernian - sent Oda racing towards the Livi goal but defender Jack Fitzwater ended the danger with a smart tackle.
Another Hearts break involving Humphrys and Cammy Devlin following a Livi corner saw the back-tracking Omeonga intervene, before Shankland headed a Kingsley corner over the crossbar.
All the while the ball was spending a lot of time in the air and the game could not settle.
Just before the break a Shankland cross was missed by Oda just yards from goal and the Japan attacker was replaced by 18-year-old Australia international Garang Kuol, on loan from Newcastle, for the start of the second half.
Within minutes Kuol was set up by Humphrys but home goalkeeper Shamal George brilliantly saved his first shot from 12 yards and then foiled his second effort from the rebound.
At the other end in the 62nd minute, Livingston forward Steven Bradley latched on to a long clearance from defence and lobbed on-rushing Hearts goalkeeper Zander Clark but defender Kye Rowles rushed back to clear the ball off the line.
The game was heating up and a powerful drive from Humphrys was beaten away by George.
The huge travelling support roared for a penalty when Livingston captain Nicky Devlin challenged Kuol inside the box but referee Alan Muir was not interested, but he was keen to book Hearts substitute Jorge Grant - on for the injured Devlin in the first half - for simulation at the edge of the Livingston box.
Livi's Morgan Boyes drew a fine save from Clark with a powerful drive from 20 yards but this was a game destined to be goalless.
Livingston manager David Martindale: "We have taken five points from Hearts. I think for a club our size - I don't like to speak about budgets but I will - that is testament to how far we have come as a football club.
"For me, Hearts are the third-best team in the country. They finished third last year, they are third this year and they have battered a few teams this season and scored a lot of goals.
"I think we can take points off any team outside the Old Firm - you need a wee bit of luck when you come up against the Old Firm at times."
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson: "There won't be any Christmas DVD's of that game. There was no football in it at all but it is always the same when you come here.
"We had two opportunities, one at the end of the first half and at the start of the second half and if you don't take them then you don't deserve to take three points.
"I have watched a lot of games here, there is never really any football played on it. It is very direct, you have to turn teams, get second balls and you need to adapt.
"We tried to adapt and I thought we adapted pretty well. We tried to get into good areas and I thought we did that better in the second half but I think that was helped by the fact that we were into the wind in the second half and the ball holds up a wee bit.
"We go into every game to win it. We came here to win the game and as I said, we had a couple of chances that we didn't take but at least it is another point on the board and it could be an important point at the end of the season."
Livingston are away to Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic in their next match on February 1, while Hearts host Rangers on the same night.
Both games kick-off at 7.45pm.
