SAVIOUR CRAIG
Gordon stops Obileye’s penalty kick in shoot-out to ensure Hearts progress, but Tynecastle side are still short of ideas
GIVEN Hearts’ failings recently in front of goal, it was fitting that they were bailed out by one of their most important players at the other end of the pitch.
Make no mistake. This was poor from the Tynecastle side once again. Their disappointing run may still be classed as mini — now is not the moment for panic — but Robbie Neilson’s men are just not clicking when it matters.
Having scored once in their last four matches — and without a victory in that period — there is a great deal of relief in Gorgie that Hearts are in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.
Unable to break down Livingston over 120 minutes here despite dominating possession, goalkeeper Craig Gordon proved a vital figure once more. Ironically, the men in maroon were faultless in the shoot-out.
Livingston substitute Cristian Montano was first to slip up, as his penalty clipped the outside of the post, before Ayo Obileye saw his effort saved by Gordon to bring this fifth-round tie to an end.
The defender has endured a week of penalty pain, having missed a spot-kick in Livi’s midweek draw with Ross County in Dingwall.
‘It’s a sore one,’ admitted Lions boss David Martindale. ‘I feel sorry for the players.
‘I don’t buy into the idea that penalties are a lottery. It’s about ability and mentality. Craig Gordon is an imposing figure in the opposition goal.’
Full-back Michael Smith returned from injury for Hearts, while Cammy Devlin and Alex Cochrane were also restored to the team. Striker Liam Boyce dropped to the bench, alongside Taylor Moore and Peter Haring.
Martindale reinstated Bruce Anderson to his side to form a front pairing with Joel Nouble.
Anderson had already beaten the offside trap to cause Hearts panic in the opening stages before he was once again running at the home defence inside 10 minutes. He was afforded the freedom of Tynecastle but his effort from the edge of the box was held by Gordon.
Hearts had been a bit wasteful with their attacking play but did threaten to take the lead on 17 minutes. On-loan Everton striker Ellis Simms raced behind the Livi defence only for their goalkeeper Max Stryjek to stand firm and block the effort from an angle.
Just before the half-hour mark, Simms turned provider by slipping the ball inside to Barrie McKay, but his first-time effort flew over the crossbar.
It was soon McKay’s turn to assist, feeding Cochrane on the left but Livi captain Nicky Devlin flung himself to block the fierce shot.
As the rain started to pour, the volume of the home support rose — but it was boos which sounded around the stadium as half-time arrived. This had not been pretty viewing.
Neilson waited until the hour mark and enough was enough. On came Boyce and Gary MackaySteven for Andy Halliday and Cochrane in an attempt to find some much-needed spark.
The Northern Irishman was a matter of moments on the pitch when he chased a ball down the left. He clattered into advertising boards under a challenge from Jason Holt and appeared to take an almighty whack on the head. The Livi midfielder was not the most popular man in the stadium after that incident, and Boyce soon returned to the pitch.
Hearts survived a huge scare with just under 20 minutes remaining. Scott Pittman’s shot from the edge of the box deflected off John Souttar. The ball struck the post and, thankfully for the hosts, rebounded straight into the arms of Gordon.
Simms soon tested Stryjek up the other end after the ball fell to him at an angle on the right of the penalty area but the keeper denied him again.
With five minutes remaining, Mackay-Steven swung in a cross from the left but Simms’ header flashed over the bar.
As the clocked ticked down, Souttar met a corner at the back post but his header was tipped over the bar by Stryjek.
Eight minutes into extra-time, substitute Haring met McKay’s cross from the left but his header from close range was brilliantly saved by Stryjek.
Souttar then strode forward and found Simms, who laid the ball to Boyce but his strike flashed over the bar.
With 11 minutes of extra time remaining, Pittman found space for Livvy from a cross but his header was wide of target.
Hearts held their nerve in the shootout, with Obileye seeing his effort easily saved by Gordon.
‘I’m not making excuses but we left Ross County at 10pm and it was a five-hour bus journey,’ said Martindale as he reflected on his team’s week.
‘We got stuck in traffic, there was four inches of snow, there was a lorry jack-knifed on the motorway and we were stuck in that queue for an hour and a half.
‘Then the boys are getting in their houses at 4 or 5am and we were back in training that day for massages, recovery and ice baths.
‘Wee Stephane Omeonga and Pittman have played a hell of an amount of football, as well as wee Alan Forrest. The boys did more than enough to nick it in 90 minutes.
‘I thought over the piece, we gave up a lot of possession, but we dealt with balls into the box. Max had a save from a glancing header. We had two outstanding chances in the first half and then we had one in the second half with Pittman when it hit the inside of the post and fell back into Craig Gordon’s arms.’