Steven Naismith’s side got back to winning ways on Wednesday night after a gruelling 1-0 victory over Livingston.
It was Kenneth Vargas who got the all important winner late into the second half to elevate Hearts up to 4th in the league table.
It was a new look starting eleven for both sides as they rotated their squads ahead of this midweek fixture, Stephen Naismith with one eye on Sundays league cup semi final, made 5 changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Rangers at the weekend.
David Martindale made 6 changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Dundee that inflicted Livingston’s 4th defeat in their last 6.
Tynecastle Park hasn’t been a happy stomping ground for Livingston in recent years with their last victory coming back in 2002.
It was Hearts that started the better of the two sides with the visitors struggling in possession early on.
Lawerence Shankland caused all sorts of problems in the first half hitting the bar in the 2oth minute and then forcing jack Hamilton into a great save moments later.
Livingston struggled in possession throughout the opening 45 minutes and failed to produce any sort of threat in attack.
Despite their first half dominance Steven Naismith’s side failed to make it count heading into the break level.
The second half was a continuation of the first in many ways, Livingston poor in possession and hearts failing to make their chances count.
A well worked team move by Hearts in the 70th minute left Lowry in space on the edge of the box but Jack Hamilton in the Livingston net kept his side level once again.
The deadlock was finally broken however in the 78th minute when Jorge Grant played a perfect ball behind the Livingston defenders across the face of goal to pick out Kenneth Vargas who tapped the ball home for his first goal as a Hearts player.
An important victory for Hearts who now turn their attention to Sundays Scottish League Cup semi final against Rangers.
For Livingston its another disappointing defeat as they now prepare for a trip to Dens Park to face Dundee for the second time within a fortnight.
