What. A. Hit.

It's a Jason Thunder-Holt from all of 30 yards, whacked on the volley, and tipped brilliantly wide by Dimitar Mitov.

That would have been special. Seriously special.

Scott Tanser watches the ball drop out of the sky and smacks a volley at goal which Will Dennis produces a good save.

On second viewing, that was maybe one for the cameras from the Kilmarnock keeper.

Ouch!published at 20:29 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2023

20:29 GMT 27 December 2023

Livingston 0-0 St Johnstone

A sore one for St Johnstone midfielder Max Kucheriavyi, involved in a tussle with Jason Holt.

The knock is going to force him off as we approach half-time, with the experienced Graham Carey on as his replacement.

Another handball shout at Easter Road.

Jair Tavares' cross is headed down by Dylan Vente at the back-stick, and appears to once again come off the arm of Kye Rowles.

It would have certainly been the harshest of the bunch, and with the way the penalties have gone tonight, the post could well have been in for another battering.

Killie come forward again. Kyle Vassell, to David Watson, to Danny Armstrong... he cuts inside but Zach Hemming produces a fine punch against his former club to avert the danger.

St Mirren then come up the pitch and there's a stramash in the Killie six-yard box before the ball is cleared.

Here's a look at the two missed penalties at Easter Road.

I still can't quite believe it.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Wellllll now. Danny Armstrong dispossesses Richard Taylor and the defender hauls him to the deck. It's just outside the box and fortunately for Taylor, Alex Gogic is back. It's just yellow.

The free-kick is in a nice area, 20 yards from goal. Matty Kennedy is over it, but it deflects off the wall. There's a quick VAR check for handball, but on we go.

Jane Lewis
BBC Scotland

This is a decent game despite the lack of goals.

Stevie May and Nicky Clark look lively for the visitors, while Michael Nottingham with his long throws into the box is a real danger for Livi. Enjoyable stuff - it is still freezing though.

Another chance for Kilmarnock, but good St Mirren defending denies the visitors.

Brad Lyons whips a vicious ball to the back post towards Kyle Vassell, but somehow Marcus Fraser got his head there first.

Killie looking more likely to get the next goal.

Hibs come again.

Martin Boyle looks to bounce back from his penalty miss and drills a great cross across the face of goal, but nobody in green is able to find the connection before Nathaniel Atkinson turns it behind for a corner.

What a save! Unbelievable stuff at Easter Road!

Zander Clark comes up trumps to tip Martin Boyle's penalty onto the post.

Josh Campbell tries to drive the ball back towards goal but Hearts eventually clear their lines.

A penalty apiece, both off the post. This game is ridiculous.

Handball at the other end, and it's another penalty.

What's Kye Rowles doing with his hand up there? Madness.

Image source, SNS

Hibs with some last-ditch defending as Hearts look to bounce back from that penalty miss.

Alan Forrest is slipped in behind and cuts inside to fire at goal, but Will Fish gets a crucial block in the way to avert the danger.

Hearts are getting in behind so easily.

Michael Stewart
Former Scotland midfielder on BBC Sportsound

It's been a frenetic start.

The handball, and then Shankland missing from the spot. He hadn't missed a penalty for Hearts before that. It's a huge let-off for Hibs.

Lawrence Shankland sends David Marshall the wrong way, but can only hit the outside of the post.

A huge chance goes to waste.

Hearts' main man had previously scored all 15 of his previous penalty in maroon. Will his side live to regret that missed opportunity?

Oh, we've got a VAR check at Easter Road.

And it's a penalty for handball against Rocky Bushiri. Huge chance for Hearts.

St Miren have the ball in the back of the net, but the flag is up quickly on the far side.

Toyosi Olusanya is slipped through on the left hand side of the box. He fires it hard at goal, Will Dennis parries it out, but it hits Jonah Ayunga and loops in.

However, the replay shows Olusanya was offside. Correct decision.

Another St Johnstone opportunity. This one comes from a low, swept Matthew Smith free-kick from the right, which Shamal George can't deal with.

Stevie May and Nicky Clark both have a lash at it, before the final shot is lofted high over the bar.

And away we go at Easter Road.

The atmosphere sounds absolutely electric.