A LOVELY goal from Sean Clare, his first for Hearts, won a tie which was a really decent watch once it got going.

Livingston had plenty of chances and possession, especially in the second-half, but couldn’t find a way around a team they put five past the last time they met.

Defender Conor Shaughnessy and David Vanecek, a giant of a striker, made their debuts for Hearts, while Chris Erskine got his first run-out in Livingston colours. All showed up well.

With all due respect to Auchinleck Talbot, Hearts are all-but through to the quarter-finals.

The last time they met the Ayrshire Junior side was in 2012 - when they went onto beat Hibernian 5-1 in the final.

You wouldn’t mess with David Vanecek

Hearts' new striker would never get a job as a bouncer, simply because he’s so intimidating that nobody would dare even try to get into a door he was stood at.

However, Vanecek is more than a just a big lump, as he showed with a lovely touch which set-up Clare for his goal.

The Czech provided moments of great intelligence on his debut, his passing in particular caught the eye, and his physicality is going to come in handy with regards to the Premiership.

Vanecek is 27, the perfect age for a striker, and could be a real find for Hearts once he properly gets going.

This was an encouraging start. Craig Levein has picked out a few gems in his time and this could well be another one.

And right at the end, Livingston defender Declan Gallagher put the striker into touch, and almost the Hearts dugout, with one hell of a clatter.

Vanecek took a second, stood up, dusted himself down and got on with it.

Sean Clare must build on what was a brilliant first Hearts goal

It has been coming, too long in coming, but when the young striker did break his duck it was with a wonderful finish which ended up being the winner of a Scottish Cup tie.

Clare has at times been off the pace so far. He’s been guilty of disappearing in games and missing chances.

There was a bit of pressure on him, and there still is, because with the best will in the world a centre-forward’s job is to get goals.

It would be good to see him kick on now and Clare himself thanked Steven Naismith, who again had a good afternoon, for his help.

“It’s amazing to score – I felt it’s been coming, Naisy has been helping me,” said Clare. “That’s what I’m here to do – to make the difference in games and I need to do it a lot more. I can’t thank Naisy enough – hopefully he keeps helping me in the future and I can stick a few more in.

“I’m enjoying my time here. It’s a big learning curve for me. It’s a physical game but with each game I’m adapting and getting better and that’s all I can do – keep learning and going to try and put in more good performances.”

Describing Livingston as being organised is like saying Donald Trump occasionally gets his facts mixed up

No matter the team or the level, if the players know their jobs, give their best on the park, keep it simple and play to whatever strengths they have, then that’s a team with a chance.

Livingston defend deep and well. They never stop moving, nobody is afraid to make a challenge and there tends to be someone there to bail a team-mate out whenever a mistake is made.

They lack a playmaker but then so do lots of teams. However, those who say they play long ball football are way off.

This wasn’t to be their day, their shooting could and should have been sharper, but Gary Holt was right to say he had little complaint about his team’s effort.

Hearts’ tribute to Freddie Glidden was class

When this football club gets something right, they really get it right.

From the superb black and white cover of the match-day programme, to the warm tributes inside which looked back on a legend’s life, to the minute’s silence, this Maroon hero was given the respect he deserved.

Glidden, who passed away on New Year’s Day, captained the 1956 Scottish Cup winning team and he added two League Cup and a League title.

By every account, this son of a Lanarkshire miner was a proper gentleman and Hearts should be proud of the way they paid their respects to a true hero of the past

Having this game live on television did it no favours

Did the cameras really have to be at Tynecastle? That they were meant that one of the country’s best grounds for atmosphere was half empty.

You couldn’t blame anyone for staying away, not when it’s that time of year when everyone is skint, it’s cold and it’s on the telly.

The empty spaces affected the players, especially at the beginning for those in Maroon who are used to the old place being virtually full for every home match.

We all know that television, to an extent, rules but while this was an all Premiership tie but please TV people, and the SFA, have a think before going with an obvious match to be televised live because this tie deserved a bigger crowd.