Berra looks on bright side as he praises ‘steely’ teenager Hickey

LIVINGSTON

0

done his knee and I asked him if he was okay.

“He got up and that shows his character as well that he’s got a bit of steel with him.

“They thought it was a 50/50 but I’ve seen it again and he’s lunged in, two-footed.

“It’s the first time he’s been smashed since he’s played at first-team level. But he got up and got on with it, there would be many a player who would have gone off.”

Ironically, Livingston skipper Devlin, himself, was forced off five minutes before the break, perhaps feeling the effects of the challenge on Hickey. However, the Hearts youngster shook off his pain to deliver an assured display, which included driving the team on from the left flank during the second period.

Hickey had been culpable for Rangers’ equaliser in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Tynethat

CHRISTOPHE BERRA

“They are a difficult opponent who are really strong at home”

he can add to his game to make him even better.”

The result might not have been satisfactory to the away fans at the Tony Macaroni Arena, especially taking into account Hearts’ numerical advantage, but Berra’s glass was half full. “They’re a difficult opponent who are really strong at home,” he said.

“Rangers came here and struggled, I know Aberdeen came and won but I think they were lucky on the day and Celtic got beat 2-0.

“We’re bitterly disappointed, them going down to ten men, we didn’t have the quality to unlock them but then all credit to them as well.”

Hearts’ best chance arrived in the 31st minute when Uche Ikpeazu ran on to Sean Clare’s deft flick but his low drive was repelled by Matija Sarkic.

Livingston had gone close through Scott Robinson eight minutes earlier but the attacker’s near-post effort was blocked by Joel Pereira.

Hearts piled on the pressure at the end but lacked the guile to penetrate Livingston’s rigid defensive structure.

Given how events unfolded, former Hearts midfielder Robinson admits Livingston, who travel to Hibernian on Wednesday, were happy with a point.

“You have to stick to what you are doing and sit that bit deeper,” said Robinson. “We just tried to hit them on the counterbutweranoutoflegs.

“We had a few half chances but we just wanted to get the point. With 11 men who knows what would have happened but we are delighted with the point.

“I read an article from [Hearts defender] Michael Smith saying to his teammates that they could expect the hardest game of their season here, so I think teams are respecting us here. I think we can be a match for anyone here.”