Hearts moved six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a hard-fought victory over bottom side Livingston in a game of contrasting halves at Tynecastle.
After Rangers’ win over Celtic in the lunchtime kick off, Derek McInnes’ side had the chance to open daylight between themselves and the Glasgow giants.
They looked to grasp it firmly with both hands in the first half as they battered Livingston, managing 15 shots and forcing goalkeeper Jerome Prior into good saves and his defenders into last-ditch blocks.
Tomas Magnusson also missed from just a few yards and Claudio Braga had an effort deflected off a post in a flurry of opportunities for Hearts.
Craig Halkett was the only player to beat the visiting rearguard, though, as he guided in a cultured header after debutant Jordi Altena curled a superb cross into the box.
But after the break Livingston, who are without a win in 18 league games, vastly improved and striker Tete Yengi had three good opportunites saved by goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow.
However despite a nervy ending Hearts did enough to bounce back from their derby defeat to open up a buffer in the title race, while Livingston stay four points adrift at the bottom after their eighth defeat by a single goal this season.
With Celtic toiling, Rangers building momentum, and a favourable run of fixtures this month, this felt like a must-win game for Hearts.
In the first period they played like a team who believe they can be champions as they bossed their struggling opponents off the pitch.
New signing Altena created three chances, including a brilliant ball in for Halkett to head in his sixth goal of the season, and looked promising going forward.
Fit-again midfielder Beni Baningime strolled the opening 45 minutes as Cammy Devlin put in another towering performance, and Lawrence Shankland floated about causing mayhem.
The Scotland striker laid on six opportunities overall, the most he has created in a league game for two-and-a-half years.
All of that should have resulted in a comfortable half-time scoreline, but instead Livingston took confidence from still being in the game.
They went direct in the second half as Mohamed Sylla started to get into the game, and Yengi was outstanding as he busied himself in the final third.
The striker had three efforts in good positions saved by Schwolow, the best of them after turning inside Stuart Findlay in the box.
At the end Hearts had to stand up to a strong challenge and a nervousness in their own stadium as McInnes brought on more defenders to see out an important win.
All that matters is they got it and now have a six point advantage at the league summit again.
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes: “In the first half we looked like a team that deserved to be top of the league. I thought our keeper was magnificent because we knew there would be a reaction in the second half.
“We never quite looked settled enough. We had some moments, but we still looked a bit rushed. Sometimes one goal is enough and it was enough today.”
Livingston manager David Martindale: “We rode our luck in the first 25 minutes. They worked on overloads down our left hand-side we couldn’t get any pressure on the ball.
“Deservedly we went in 1-0 down. Then second half we were good value for money. We got pressure on the ball and controlled parts of the game and created good chances. The boys have got to take a lot of self belief and confidence from that.”
Hearts visit in-form Dundee next Sunday (14:00 GMT) while Livingston are in midweek action on Tuesday as they host St Mirren (19:45).
