Livingston 1 Hearts 1

Last updated : 08 March 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Hearts' UEFA Cup ambitions were kept on hold as Livingston forced a draw in an untidy game.

Phil Stamp gave Hearts an early lead and could have won it in the closing moments with a right-foot volley but Livingston deserved a share of the points with substitute Oscar Rubio heading a second-half equaliser.

Hearts were gifted the opening goal after just eight minutes. Gus Bahoken headed a Jean Louis Valois cross into the path of Stamp and he needed no second invitation as he drilled a low shot past Alan Main from the edge of the area.

Marvin Andrews prevented a certain second goal in the 20th minute when a Gary Wales cross was bound for Kevin McKenna in the centre but the Livingston defender somehow managed to get his head to the ball and divert it to safety.

Livingston were not without threat themselves in the first half. Stuart Lovell whipped a 20-yard shot narrowly wide and then Eugene Dadi somehow contrived to miss the target from three yards after a break down the left from Bahoken.

Hearts came close to extending their lead in the 33rd minute when Wales pounced on a head-flick from McKenna but Main saved smartly.

Wales was wayward with a lob when he was clean through on Main.

Livingston improved in the second half and Rolando Zarate clipped a shot over the crossbar after an unconvincing punch from Tepi Moilanen and the goalkeeper looked similarly indecisive at Livingston's equaliser after 61 minutes.

He hesitated as he went for a Lee Makel corner and Rubio punished him with a meaty header which was a goal from the moment he made contact with the ball.

Substitute Colin McMenamin became the first player to be yellow-carded after 75 minutes for a late tackle on Austin McCann.

The game was in the balance in the final minutes but Steven Pressley made a fine challenge on David Xausa as the Canadian was almost clean through on Moilanen.