Scotland round-up: Livingston set for European adventure

Livingston FC celebrated the greatest achievement in their short history by qualifying for next season's UEFA Cup today.

Seven-year fix
Just seven years after starting out as a Third Division outfit, Jim Leishman's side beat Dunfermline Athletic FC 4-1 to clinch fourth place in the Scottish Premier League and secure the last remaining slot in Europe.

Captain's example
Leishman's side, formerly known as Meadowbank Thistle FC before they relocated the 15 miles from Edinburgh to the new town of Livingston, took the lead on 34 minutes through captain Stuart Lovell's header.

Famous win
Jason Dair threatened to spoil the party atmosphere with an equaliser shortly before half-time, but Canadian international Davide Xausa restored Livingston's lead on the hour and netted his second on 76 minutes before Francisco Quino's 84th-minute volley sealed the famous win.

'Fantastic achievement'
An ecstatic Lovell said: "At the start of the season we were 500-1 to make it into a European place and there weren't many takers - even in our dressing room. It's a fantastic achievement for a club that's well-run from top to bottom."

Experimental Celtic
In the day's other game, Heart of Midlothian FC, who were denied the fourth European place by Livingston's victory, were beaten 4-1 by an experimental Celtic FC side.

Maloney double
Simon Lynch opened the scoring on 12 minutes before Ricardo Fuller pulled Hearts level. But Lynch restored Celtic's lead moments before the break and Shaun Maloney's second-half double ensured Martin O'Neill's side reached 100 league points for the season.