THE natural order duly prevailed as top beat bottom but Hearts were pushed all the way by a Livingston side who belied their lowly position and could count themselves unfortunate to go unrewarded.

Mark Burchill's side went into this match on a three-game unbeaten run and buoyed by recollection of victory over their opponents in a Petrofac Training Cup tie at the start of the season.

They also knew that victory, however unexpected, would be sufficient to see them move off the foot of the table.

However, with just one league defeat all season and the prospect of opening up a 19-point chasm at the top of the table, Hearts had their own potent source of motivation.

In the end it proved enough but head coach Robbie Neilson admitted: "We didn't play that well but we got the three points and that's the most important thing.

"It's going to be like that for the rest of the season because teams want to beat Hearts and they are going to battle.

"Sometimes it's about character and strength and we showed that today."

Hearts took fewer than four minutes to show they meant business with an opening goal which had its origins in their own half.

Kyle Jacobs, who had already linked well with his brother Keaghan on the edge of the Hearts box, lost possession to Jamie Walker who quickly released Genero Zeefuik in an alarming amount of space.

The big Dutchman had time to steady himself on the edge of the box before curling a low shot in at Darren Jamieson's left-hand corner.

Hearts were much more threatening and might have doubled their lead when Walker's corner was only cleared to Miguel Pallardo at the edge of the box and the Spaniard just failed to produce a carbon copy of his goal against Alloa, the ball rising inches too high.

James Keatings, spotting Jamieson off his line, was unlucky to see an audacious 40-yard effort go over the bar.

Referee Brian Colvin incensed both sides when he turned down Livingston's penalty appeals after Jordan White appeared to be upended by Neil Alexander who had spilled a cross.

However, the Hearts keeper was convinced he had been impeded.

Tempers flared on the stroke of half-time when Sam Nicholson was left writhing in pain after a wild challenge by Jason Talbot.

With visiting fans baying for a red card, the Livi player escaped with yellow as did Declan Gallagher and Alim Ozturk who had squared-up.

Nicholson was unable to continue, paving the way for new signing Kenny Anderson to come on for his debut.

But Livi hit back with a goal which was as controversial as it was unexpected. Talbot's long throw was flicked on and, as the Hearts defence dithered, Craig Sives ghosted in at the back post to score.

However, the scorer looked suspiciously offside.

Suddenly Hearts found themselves chasing the game and for a while Livi looked just as likely to find a winner.

However, the Tynecastle troops showed the resilience and killer instinct to win the game with a quick-fire double.

In 81 minutes Anderson marked his debut with a flying header low into the net from Billy King's cross and two minutes later Walker raced through to send an angled drive into the far corner.

There was still time for late drama when Hearts sub Brad McKay was red-carded for a last-man foul on Miles Hippolyte in the box and Kyle Jacobs netted the penalty.

Mark Burchill, the Livingston manager, believed his could have taken the points. He said: "I thought we were the better side in the second half and just lacked a bit of composure round their box.

"If we'd gone ahead at 1-1 I think we would have gone on to win the game because I was looking at Hearts and their supporters and they were getting uptight.

"But I've been on the other side at Celtic and Hearts and sometimes the big teams find a way to get there.

"This performance gives me confidence that we can get out of where we are and I have total belief in what I've got." Man-of-the-match: Jamie Walker - capped an all-action display with what proved to be the winner.

Livingston: Jamieson; Sives, Talbot, Fordyce, Kyle Jacobs, Keaghan Jacobs, O'Brien (Praprotnik 81), Gallagher, White (Hippolyte 78), Mullen, Sekajja. Unused Subs: Beaumont, McKenna, Pittman, Rutherford, Walker (GK).

Bookings: O'Brien, Kyle Jacobs, White, Sekajja, Talbot, Gallagher Hearts: Alexander; Paterson, Wilson, Ozturk, Gomis, Walker, Nicholson (Anderson 46), Pallardo, Keatings (King 75), Zeefuik (McKay 90), McGhee. Unused Subs: El Hassnaoui, Oliver, Smith, Hamilton (GK).

Bookings: Ozturk, Paterson Referee: B Colvin Attendance: 5,352