Match Report

Hearts extended their lead at the top of the table to five points as they overpowered Livingston at Almondvale.

Rudi Skacel set them on their way by scoring in his sixth successive league match and further goals from Andy Webster and a Paul Hartley brace underlined their superiority.

Bottom-of-the-table Livingston did not contribute until they were three goals behind and by then it was too late to salvage the situation.

Skacel opened the scoring after ten minutes when he headed the ball home from just a couple of yards out after Hartley had headed the ball into his path.

Edgaras Jankauskas then forced a save from Roddy McKenzie before Scott Boyd cleared the ball off the line.

Webster headed the second goal after 27 minutes when he was unmarked at a free-kick and he left McKenzie stranded.

Seven minutes later, Hartley beat the offside trap as he chased a pass from Roman Bednar before finding the net.

Livingston belatedly came back late in the first half with Graham Barrett hitting the crossbar with a free-kick. Hearts did not heed the warning and, a minute from the break, Craig Gordon beat out another Neil Barrett free-kick and Paul Dalglish tucked in the loose ball.

Barrett almost pulled back another goal early in the second half but his header flashed just a yard wide.

Dalglish then missed a good chance when he was clean through but pulled his shot past the post.

But any hope Livingston had of pulling it back evaporated after 62 minutes when Barrett needlessly fouled Jamie McAllister in the area and Hartley stroked home the penalty to complete the scoring.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides