An incredible performance saw Livi demolish Hearts and book their place in the Petrofac Training Cup quarter-finals on an unforgettable night at the Energy Assets Arena.

A Jordan White double, along with goals from substitutes Myles Hippolyte and David Robertson saw the Lions romp into the last eight at the expense of the much-changed Jambos, who had to rely on an injury-time Jason Talbot own goal to get them on the scoresheet on a dismal night for new boss Robbie Neilson.

Livi took the game to Hearts from the off and created the first chance inside two minutes but Danny Mullen’s shot was deflected wide. Moments later a driving run down the right from Kyle Jacobs forced another corner from which Livi would make the breakthrough.

Though the initial corner was cleared, the ball was returned into the box towards Gary Glen and, after Glen was wiped out by keeper Lee Hollis, the ball broke to Jordan White who calmly rolled the ball into the net from a tight angle.
Livi continued to pile forward and Gary Glen got into space but could only drag his shot tamely wide. Hearts then had their first chance with a long range effort from Scott Robinson which Darren Jamieson did well to push away from danger. Livi went straight up the other end and Kyle Jacobs tried an overhead kick from a corner which lacked the necessary pace to trouble Hollis. Jacobs then linked up with McKenna down the right but White couldn’t quite get on the end of the cross.

Livi were still in control and, after some decent build-up play on the edge of the box, Callum Fordyce tried a pot-shot from 20 yards which Hollis did well to hold.

Hollis wasn’t instilling too much confidence in his defenders and Livi continued to bombard him with crosses and, when he flapped at another, Jacobs could only shoot over. Hearts still carried a threat, mainly from distance, and Liam Gordon fired in a thunderbolt from 25 yards which moved in the air and Jamieson did well to beat away. David Smith was next to try his luck but his shot flew harmlessly wide. White then did well to flick on a long ball to Mullen but he was crowded out by the retreating Hearts defence.

Livi suffered a blow soon after when Glen, who had shone throughout, was forced off with an injury, Robertson taking his place. There were half-hearted claims for a Hearts penalty when Robinson went down but ref Crawford Allan wasn’t interested in their claims. Livi then passed up a golden chance to double their lead when Jacobs got forward again and swung in a great cross for Robertson, but he misjudged the flight of the ball and didn’t get the right connection on it and the header flew just wide.

More excellent build-up play saw White and Mullen link up but the latter could only send his shot straight at Hollis. The youngster came even closer with an effort which Hollis did well to push wide and ensure his side only went in 1-0 down at the break.
Livi picked up where they left off in the second half and, after yet more poor goalkeeping from Hollis, Mullen couldn’t find space for a decent shot and could only prod an effort wide. McKenna then drove down the right but saw his cross fly agonisingly in front of White. Hearts then upped the ante and put some pressure on the Lions goal, without ever really threatening. The closest they came was when a fine low ball across took out the whole Livi defence but no one had gambled and Livi could clear.

Hearts paid for their failure to make that pressure count when Livi went on a three-goal blitz in the space of eight minutes. First, a magnificent run down the right from Jacobs took him right to the byline and his cross was stood up perfectly for White who got between the two Hearts defenders to power a header down under Hollis and into the net. With the comfort of a two-goal cushion, Livi made their second change as Hippolyte replaced Mullen and within four minutes they changed paid ultimate dividends as Hippolyte produced sublime skill to dance through the Hearts defence before arrowing a spectacular low drive past the despairing Hollis and into the corner of the netLivi (and Hippolyte) weren’t done there as the former Brentford man picked out Robertson with a glorious sliderule ball and the ex-Dundee United man calmly slid a finish into the corner to seal a miserable debut for Hollis and a fairytale night for the Lions. There was still time for a moment of comedy and scant consolation for Hearts as Liam Henderson swung in a cross which, in trying to clear for a corner, Talbot succeeded only in volleying into the corner of his own net. A fine finish, just at the wrong end! There was still time for White to come within inches of his hat-trick when he met a fine cross from Jack Beaumont but could only head the ball back across goal and agonisingly wide.

He may have been disappointed with that miss but it could take nothing away from a majestic performance from both White and the whole Livi team as they reached the last eight for the first time since 2011.

Livingston: 1 Jamieson, 3 Talbot, 5 Fordyce, 6 Ky.Jacobs, 7 Kn.Jacobs, 8 O'Brien (Beaumont 85), 14 Gallagher, 17 McKenna, 18 White, 19, Glen (Robertson 37), 20 Mullen (Hippolyte 78)
Subs not used: 2 Sives, 21 Grant, 27 Burchill, 31 Rutherford

Hearts: 8 Robinson, 14 Smith, 16 Oliver (Buchanan 56), 19 Keatings, 22 McKay, 25 Hollis, 26 Gordon (Roy 65), 27 Beith (McKirdy 90), 29 Smith, 30 McGhee, 31 Henderson
Subs not used: 33 Scott, 35 Flanagan, 36 Smith, 41 Halliwell

Referee: Crawford Allan

Attendance: 3,807

Match report: Andrew Crawford