Hearts late, late show salvages a point

Heart of Midlothian 1 Livingston 1

Ladbrokes Premiership, Wednesday 4^th
December 2019 – Tynecastle

Hearts
salvaged a point thanks to a late goal from Steven MacLean in their Ladbrokes
Premiership relegation battle with Livingston at Tynecastle on Wednesday
evening.

A
first half goal from former Hibernian player Marvin Bartley looked like sinking
Hearts deeper in the relegation mire but MacLean’s late strike denied Livingston
all three points.

Hearts
have been strongly linked with Daniel Stendel as their next manager, but it was
assistant manager Austin MacPhee who was in charge on Wednesday. Hearts injury
woes continued as Aaron Hickey was injured in the warm up and was replaced by
Jamie Brandon. During the game itself there was a further blow for Hearts when
talisman Steven Naismith went off after just 25minutes as Hearts woeful Wednesday
continued.

Yet
Hearts began brightly with Jamie Walker, Sean Clare and Steven Naismith all
trying their luck on goal.  Then the footballing
Gods yet again began to turn their backs on Hearts. First Naismith went off
injured and thoughts of yet another lengthy lay-off for the Scotland striker
quickly came into the thoughts of the Tynecastle faithful.

Then
the visitors took the lead. Hearts struggled with a long throw-in and Bartley
took full advantage to blast the ball past Hearts recalled keeper Bobby Zlamal.
Bartley had not scored a goal since November 2014 and had not managed to do so
when in the green and white of Hibs. It summed up Hearts present predicament
that he should break his duck at Tynecastle.

Hearts
struggled thereafter although they had plenty possession. It looked like
another depressing night in Gorgie until veteran striker Steven MacLean pulled
a rabbit out of the hat with the game nearing its conclusion after the visitors
failed to clear a corner.

Hearts
fans are earnestly hoping their club appoint a manager – whether this is Daniel
Stendel or someone else – as a matter of urgency. Their team is badly shorn of
confidence and leadership and there’s a malaise which needs urgently addressed.
Relegation is a real possibility.

Hearts: Zlamal, Smith, Berra, Clare, Walker (Meshino,
76′), Mulraney, Whelan, Naismith (MacLean, 25′), Damour (Ikpeazu, 55′),
Halkett, Brandon.

Livingston: Sarkic, Taylor-Sinclair, Sibbald (Erskine, 79′),
Lamie, Guthrie, Bartley, Pittman, Robinson, Lawless (Odoffin, 88′), Jacobs
(Lawson, 46′), Dykes.

Referee: Greg Aitken

Attendance: 14,681