Alexandros Kyziridis wheeled away, fist clenched, to celebrate with the Hearts’ fans after netting the game-winner for the Men in Maroon a minute into injury time at rain-swept Livingston.
The lively Greek forward had come on at half-time and made an immediate impact as Claudio Braga latched onto a ball from Kyziridis to nod the Men in Maroon level two minutes after the re-start.
Earlier, Lewis Smith had fired the men from the Home of the Set Fare Arena into the lead after 26 minutes, leaving a Hearts defender in his wake and lashing home from the right wing.
It was a goal Jambos boss, Derek McInnes, felt was simplistic and should not have happened, but it did, and the Gorgie club had to dig themselves out of another hole.
They did so by bringing on Kyziridis and re-shuffling their pack. They also started to moving the ball quickly, pushing the resolute Livingston defence back and to the limit.
They were eventually able to turn possession into goals to the delight of the 6,500 travelling fans and McInnes said: “We started the second half like an absolute train and we never let up.”
Disappointed David Martindale, Livingston’s manager, conceded that his men did not start the second-half well and gave their rivals too much respect.
He conceded that the club had worked hard on set-plays during the build-up but were undone by the first goal and Hearts then found momentum.
Martindale added: “I am disappointed not to have got a point, but we did not do enough to win the game.”
It’s the second fixture in a week in which the Jambos have had to claw their way back into a William Hill Premiership game, having been 3-0 behind at home to Motherwell before snatching a point.
Hearts, who kicked off in their change, black strip, slip back into top spot in the 12-strong table with ten points from a possible 12. Livingston drip to sixth with four points.
The visitors were on the back foot early, Livingston appealing for a penalty after Smith was challenged in the box.
Hearts’ medical staff were then called on to give goalkeeper, Zander Clark, treatment. On the bench, back-up goalkeeper Liam Mcfarlane was stripped for action as Clark appeared to have a leg issue, but he continued.
At the other end, Jeromy Prior, Livingston’s goalkeeper, was out quickly as Cammy Devlin chased a ball into the penalty box.
Braga was next to threaten after being sent through by a sweet pass down the right wing from skipper Lawrence Shankland swampland but the Portugal-born forward beat Livingston defender Adam Montgomeny for pace but then sent his right foot shot weakly wide of Prior’s right-hand post, a chance squandered.
Hearts enjoyed pressure, but Prior not really tested and The Lions broke. Smith had a darting run down the right, leaving Jambos defender, Harry Milne, in his slipstream, drifted inside and left fly with his left, finding the bottom corner as Clark made a despairing dive to his left.
The home side pressed for No 2 and a flowing move down left involving Jeremy Bokila and Robbie Muirhead finished with Smith failing to finish.
Then, Tete Yengi shot straight at Clark.
Hearts enjoyed possession, but no real penetration and home fans thought Mo Sylla had found the net, providing the finishing touch, after a corner.
Four-change Hearts struggled to find any rhythm and the Jambos fans , who made the short trip from the Capital expected more, but their favourites had failed to deliver, so far.
McInnes replaced Hallett, who was bookedafter 18 minutes, with Kyziridis and moved McIntee into back four and, from a corner from the right, they levelled.
Milne fed Kyziridis and he drove to the by line before sending a square ball across the six-yard box and, from an acute angle, Braga netted with his head, a superb strike.
Cue a new song from the terraces, a twist of a Queen classic. “All we need is Claudio Braga” rang out as the rain fell on the plastic pitch.
Braga threatened again down the right, but shot into the side netting however the focus then switched to the other end as Hearts’ defender Stuart Findlay and Livingston’s Daniel Finlayson were involved in a heavy clash on stand side near the corner. Both had treatment and home fans voiced their disapproval as Finlayson was yellow-carded. Both resumed.
Enter Hearts’ record signing, Eduardo Ageu Almeida Santos, known as Ageu. He stood out, initially because of his pink boots, but he quickly showed why the Gorgie club had worked so hard to secure his signature.
The Brazilian midfielder demanded the ball, showed real pace and was prepared to shoot, firing wide. Then he picked up ball in the edge of the box, showed great technique and good footwork, to move into the penalty box.
He shot at with Prior at close range and the ball bounced off the goalkeeper to Braga. He looked certain to score but Livingston skipper, Ryan McGowan, made up ground and possibly put the newcomer off. Braga hit the near post. He fell to his knes, head in hands.
Would Hearts rue this missed chance? Well, they didn’t thanks to the Alexandros the powerful, ice cool Greek who latched onto a cute pass from Shankland and curled the ball into the bottom corner.
However, in injury time, Livingston could have levelled. They were awarded a corner on the stand side. May ran to take the corner and his flighted ball into the box and found substitute, Connor McLennan, unmarked with a clear header, but he fired inches wide of Clark’s left hand post.
Livingston: Prior, Montgomery, McGowan (booked), Pittman (booked), Muirhead (booked) May 81, Smith (Winter 73), Bokila (Shinnie 57), Finlayson (booked), Sylla, Wilson, Yengi (booked) McLeLennan 73. Substitutes Hamilton, Carey, McLennan, Winter, May, Shinnie, Kabongolo, Wanner, Laws.
Hearts: Clark, Kent, Halkett (booked) Kyziridis 45, Baningime (Kerjota 80), Shankland, Braga (Kabangu 88), Devlin, Spittal (Ageu), Milne (booked), Findlay, McEntee. Substitutes: McFarlane, Kingsley, Kabangu, Steinwender, Wilson, Magnusson, Kerjota, Ageu, Kyziridis.
Referee: Duncan Nicolson
PACKED: Two of the stands at Livingston packed with Jambos fans. Picture Nigel Duncan
Experienced news, business, arts, sport and travel journalist. Food critic and managing editor of a well-established food and travel website. Also a magazine editor of publications with circulations of up to 200,000 and managing director of a long-established PR/marketing company with a string of blue-chip clients in its CV. Former communications lecturer at a Scottish university and social media specialist for a string of successful and busy SMEs.
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