Football: RUDI AWAKENING FOR LIVI

HEARTS went back to the top of the SPL with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Livingston.

A first-half double by Czech star Rudi Skacel, his 12th and 13th goals of the season, gave the Edinburgh side the lead before Allan Walker pulled a goal back.

Hearts went ahead in the eighth minute.

Skacel picked the ball up in midfield, sped towards goal - shrugging off three defenders - and skipped past Gabor Vincze before beating Ludovic Roy from 20 yards. Seven minutes later Roman Bednar chested the ball down to Calum Elliot and when his cross came into the middle.

Skacel controlled with one touch before slamming home a left- footed drive.

James McPake seemed to clash with Jambos defender Andy Webster on half time and a melee ensued. McPake and Paul Dalglish were both booked at the interval for their part in the altercation.

But in the 63rd minute Walker, 20 yards from goal, fired past Craig Gordon.

Bednar later hit a post from 16 yards and with five minutes remaining Hearts substitute Michel Pospisil sent a high, swirling cross in from the right which bounced off the far post.

Then, in a remarkable incident, Vincze sent a throw-in straight into the Hearts net, but the effort was disallowed.

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