Four goals in 22 devastating minutes rescued Hearts and tamed struggling Livingston in the cinch Premiership at Tynecastle.
Stephen Kelly shocked the home support with two goals inside the first 22 minutes, the first when he beat onrushing Hearts’ goalkeeper, Craig Gordon, and the second from the edge of the penalty box.
But Lawrence Shankland was pivotal in the comeback, setting up the first two goals for the Jam Tarts with Jorge Grant (pictured) turning in a cross from the skipper after 29 minutes and Yutaro Oda did likewise three minutes later.
Cammy Devlin fired the home side ahead after 40 minutes with Alex Cochrane involved in the move and Shankland converted from the penalty spot six minutes into first-half injury time to seal the stunning comeback and claim his 28th goal of the season. The spot kick was awarded when Oda was brought down by Livingston goalkeeper Shamal George.
Shankland hit the bar in the second-half as third-placed Hearts exploited Livingston’s defensive weaknesses but the Gorgie side now move onto 62 points, one point more than they accumulated in the whole of last season, and 11 points clear of the chasing pack.
The home side enjoyed 61 per cent of possession against 39 from the visitors and had 13 shots with eight in return.
Livingston remain nine points adrift at the bottom of the 12-strong table with five cinch Premiership games remaining and their away day in Edinburgh was made worse when Tete Yengi was sent off for a second yellow card offence after 58 minutes for kicking water bottles when he was replaced.
The victory was a welcome tonic for Hearts who travel to Hampden to face Rangers in the Scottish Gas. Scottish Cup, semi-final on Sunday, April 21 (15.00).
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