Rix earns first win to put Hearts on top

Saul Brookfield
Sunday December 4, 2005
The Observer

Hearts celebrated their first win under new manager Graham Rix by returning to the top of the Scottish Premier League, the 2-1 victory over Livingston at Tynecastle lifting them two points ahead of Celtic, who play Aberdeen this afternoon.

Hearts started off at a high tempo and there was no surprise when they took the lead in the eighth minute, even less that the scorer was Rudi Skacel, who claimed his 12th goal of the season.

The Czech striker picked the ball up in midfield, shrugged off three Livingstone defenders before beating goalkeeper Ludovic Roy from 20 yards

In the 15th minute, it was two and again Skacel was the scorer. The impressive Roman Bednar chested the ball down to Calum Elliot on the left and when Elliot's cross came over Skacel controlled with one touch and slammed a left-footed shot from 16 yards past Roy.

Hearts understandably eased up at that point and could have paid for it just before half-time, James McPake failing to connect with a header when unmarked at a corner.

Allan Walker pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 63rd minute with a low drive and Hearts were rather hanging on at the end before claiming their first win in a month.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer