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Yutaro Oda - making his first start for Hearts - should have put his new side ahead before the breakHearts passed up the chance to cement third place in the Scottish Premiership as they drew a blank against chasing Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
New signings Yutaro Oda and Garang Kuol both spurned chances for the visitors, while Kye Rowles' spectacular clearance thwarted Livingston's Steven Bradley.
Seven points continue separate the two sides in third and fourth, although Livingston have a game in hand.
Hearts are now unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions, Livingston in six.
Injury and illness meant Robbie Neilson was forced into five changes from the derby-winning side of last weekend, and it showed as Hearts struggled to find a spark in the first-half.
Lawrence Shankland planted a header over from close range, before Oda should have opened his Hearts account. The captain was the creator this time, clipping a perfect low ball into the box, but Oda somehow couldn't get a touch to bundle home.
It would be his last action of the game, replaced by Koul who missed a similar sitter. Played through one-on-one by Stephen Humphrys, the Australian hared towards goal but blasted his shot straight at George who reacted superbly to deny the rebound, too.
The keeper worked hard to keep the game goalless, denying Humphrys from close range and then from distance, tipping the latter shot around the post acrobatically.
At the other end, Zander Clark almost looked foolish when Bradley got onto a long ball ahead of the keeper, chipping at goal, but Rowles raced back to volley off the line.
Player of the Match - Shamal George (Livingston)
The keeper made five big saves to deny Hearts and earned his clean sheet. Livi have found some decent stoppers in the last few years. George is another.Livi deny wasteful Hearts - analysis
Much was made of Hearts' recent clinical streak in front of goal, but an xG of 1.56 tells you they showed Livingston mercy.
But, much like the rest of the game, the big moments were missing a bit of quality. Oda and Kuol simply had to score.
Livingston did what Livingston can do, turning the game into a battle of attrition and making it scrappy. That's where they thrive and it was a point won for David Martindale's side.
What next?
Livingston travel to Glasgow to face Celtic on Wednesday night, while Hearts host Rangers at Tynecastle (both 19:45 GMT).
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Livingston
Squad number1Player nameGeorge
Squad number2Player nameDevlin
Squad number5Player nameFitzwater
Squad number15Player nameBoyes
Squad number29Player namePenrice
Squad number33Player nameOméonga
Squad number24Player nameKelly
Squad number8Player namePittman
Squad number16Player nameBradley
Squad number9Player nameAnderson
Squad number17Player nameKelly
Squad number11Player nameCristian Montaño
Squad number18Player nameHolt
Squad number28Player nameGuthrie
Heart of Midlothian
Squad number28Player nameClark
Squad number21Player nameSibbick
Squad number15Player nameRowles
Squad number3Player nameKingsley
Squad number12Player nameAtkinson
Squad number8Player nameKiomourtzoglou
Squad number14Player nameDevlin
Squad number19Player nameCochrane
Squad number9Player nameShankland
Squad number29Player nameHumphrys
Squad number88Player nameOda
Squad number7Player nameGrant
Squad number17Player nameForrest
Squad number30Player nameGinnelly
Squad number61Player nameKuol
Line-ups
Livingston
Formation 4-3-3
- 1George
- 2Devlin
- 5Fitzwater
- 15Boyes
- 29Penrice
- 33Oméonga
- 24KellySubstituted forGuthrieat 64'minutes
- 8Pittman
- 16BradleySubstituted forMontañoat 86'minutes
- 9Anderson
- 17KellySubstituted forHoltat 90+1'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Longridge
- 6Obileye
- 7Bahamboula
- 11Montaño
- 18Holt
- 22Shinnie
- 23De Lucas
- 28Guthrie
- 32Hamilton
Hearts
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 28Clark
- 21Sibbick
- 15Rowles
- 3Kingsley
- 12AtkinsonBooked at 42minsSubstituted forGinnellyat 74'minutes
- 8Kiomourtzoglou
- 14DevlinSubstituted forGrantat 39'minutesBooked at 74mins
- 19Cochrane
- 9Shankland
- 29HumphrysSubstituted forForrestat 85'minutes
- 88OdaSubstituted forKuolat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Grant
- 13Stewart
- 17Forrest
- 18McKay
- 20Neilson
- 30Ginnelly
- 61Kuol
- 77Snodgrass
Referee:Alan Muir
Attendance:6,393
Live Text
Match ends, Livingston 0, Heart of Midlothian 0.
Second Half ends, Livingston 0, Heart of Midlothian 0.
Foul by Kurtis Guthrie (Livingston).
Alex Cochrane (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kurtis Guthrie (Livingston).
Jorge Grant (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Livingston. Jason Holt replaces Stephen Kelly.
Morgan Boyes (Livingston) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Garang Kuol (Heart of Midlothian).
Hand ball by Bruce Anderson (Livingston).
Substitution, Livingston. Cristian Montaño replaces Steven Bradley.
Offside, Heart of Midlothian. Stephen Kingsley tries a through ball, but Josh Ginnelly is caught offside.
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Alan Forrest replaces Stephen Humphrys.
Morgan Boyes (Livingston) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Toby Sibbick (Heart of Midlothian).
Foul by Stéphane Oméonga (Livingston).
Stephen Humphrys (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Kurtis Guthrie (Livingston) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nicky Devlin.
Stéphane Oméonga (Livingston) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian).

3 years ago
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