12th February 2022. Hearts 0 Livingston 0 Hearts won 4-3 on penalties

 

After the defeat by Dundee in mid-week I had a degree of apprehension about todays's cutie. I left home at around 13.30 and took a roundabout route to Tynecastle to get my daily steps up and have some exercise. I eventually arrived around 14.30 and showed my Covid pass before heading to the turnstiles. As a cup-tie is not covered by my season ticket I had to purchase a ticket for today's game. Hearts are now trialing digital ticketing and I used this to get my ticket. I cannot understand however how a digital ticket still carries a £1.50 handling fee. I had loved my ticket to my Apple wallet on my phone and used my phone to have the ticket scanned for entry. As I had bought my ticket early I was in my usual Main Stand seat. As I was watching the players warming up a guy took the seat next to me. While he was a Hearts fan his nephew Jason Holt, a former Hearts player, was playing for Livingston. 

After the Dundee debacle Hearts made three changes to their starting line-up. Michael Smith returned from injury at right wing-back with Alex Cochrane on the left while. Cammy Devlin replaced Peter Haring in central midfield. The big surprise was Andy Halliday playing on the left of the front three with Josh Ginnelly and Gary Mackay-Steven on the bench. Livingston under David Martindale are a typical lower division SPL side. They will rarely win a trophy but have the nous and players to avoid being relegated. Today they fielded Joe Nouble who had been recalled after a successful loan spell with Arbroath. Also included in the side was former Hibs player Stephane Omeonga.

Surprisingly Livingston we’re the first side to threaten.Bruce Anderson beat the Hearts offside trap and Craig Gordon did well to get down to block his shot. Minutes later Anderson had another attempt from the left hand side just outside the box which Gordon saved comfortably. Hearts then Came back into the game and Barrie McKay, with a new haircut cut, in from the left forcing Max Stryjek to make a good save,. Later Stryjek made an even better save after Simms made space on the edge of the penalty area before the keeper locked his shot.  Shortly after McKay sent Cochrane free on the left hand side of the penalty area but a great block by Nicky Devlin prevented a goal.  

The second half was a bit different as the rain poured down amid neither side could really make any attacking progress. Livi is gone almost took the lead with twenty minutes to go. A shot from Stephen Pittman was deflected of John Souttar onto the post. The ball was deflected back to Gordon who gathered the ball, Ellis Simms then had a shot from the right hand side of the box saved by Stryjek before the keeper saved a Simms headier from a cross by substitute Mackay-Steven. The resultant corner from Stephen Kingsley forced Stryjek into tipping a Souttar header over the crossbar. 

The game then moved into extra time with Souttar having a strong run into the Livi area before passing to Simms on the right. The strikers cross was blazed over cross-bar by substitute Liam Boyce. In the second half of extra time Hearts had a strong penalty claim turned down after a cross from Atkinson appeared to be handled before Kingsley hit a free-kick from twenty-five yards well over the bar. The final chance fell to Peter Haring who was unable to direct his header from another Kingsley corner on target. 

The match then moved to a penalty kick decider with Livingston winning the toss for both the choice of ends and going first. The kicks were taken at the Roseburn stand end where the small number of Livingston fans were based, Both sides scored their first three attempts with Shinnie, Kelly and Holt successful for Livingston with Souttar , Haring and Woodburn scoring for Hearts. Holt looked particularly pleased at scoring against his former club as he celebrated in front of the Livingston fans. Cristian Montano then hit his attempt off the post with Simms scoring to put Hearts ahead. Ayo Obileye than had his weak attempt saved by Gordon diving to his right leaving no need for Hearts to take their final kick.

As I walked home I thought Hearts had played well in difficult conditions. However goal scoring still remains a problem despite having the bilk of possession throughout the match. A place in the quarter finals of the cup now beckons.

Hearts: Gordon, Smith , Kingsley, Souttar, Baningime, Devlin, Halliday,Cochrane,McKay,Simms, Sibbick

Subs: Boyce, Mackay-Steven, Haring, Atkinson, Woodburn.

Livingston: Stryjek, Devlin, Fitzwater, Obileye, Penrice, Omeonga, Holt, Pittman, Forrest , Nouble, Anderson. 

Subs: Montano, Bailey, Shinnie, McMillan, Kelly.