Livingston 2–1 Heart of Midlothian

Match Overview

Livingston kicked off their pre-season preparations with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Scottish Premiership rivals Heart of Midlothian at the Tony Macaroni Arena on 11 July 2026. The friendly, part of both clubs' summer schedules, offered a first glimpse of new tactics and emerging talent ahead of the new campaign.

First Half Action

The visitors from Edinburgh started brightly, controlling possession through their midfield trio. Hearts took a deserved lead midway through the first half when a well-worked corner found an unmarked defender who nodded home from close range. Livingston responded well, however, pressing higher up the pitch and forcing errors in the Hearts backline. Just before the break, a swift counter-attack saw the home side equalise through a composed finish from inside the box.

Second Half Decider

The second half saw Livingston grow in confidence. With the introduction of several substitutes, the Lions maintained a high tempo and created several clear chances. The winning goal came on 68 minutes when a speculative long-range effort deflected past the Hearts goalkeeper. Hearts pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but were denied by a combination of solid defending and wayward finishing.

Key Takeaways

• Livingston's resilience: Coming from behind to win shows positive squad depth and fighting spirit.
• Hearts' sharpness: Despite the loss, Hearts showed good early rhythm and will benefit from the competitive minutes.
• Youngsters impressing: Both clubs gave minutes to academy players, with a few catching the eye.

The result gives Livingston a morale-boosting start to their friendly schedule, while Hearts will look to sharpen their finishing ahead of their next pre-season test.