Hearts hope to have Uche Ikpeazu back for their Betfred Cup tie with Motherwell but manager Craig Levein would not use the striker's absence as a factor for their inability to score against Livingston.

Ikpeazu was missing with a foot knock as the Ladbrokes Premiership leaders lost their 100 per cent record following a goalless draw at Tynecastle.

The powerful hitman has been a focal point for Hearts' attack this season, especially after Kyle Lafferty's move to Rangers, and Hearts lacked a physical presence up front against Livingston's imposing back three.

But Steven MacLean hit the bar, while fellow striker Craig Wighton came close with a header and midfielders Steven Naismith and Peter Haring both squandered better chances. Scotland international Naismith failed to beat Liam Kelly from the penalty spot and the Austrian headed against the bar from eight yards.

Hearts will work to have Ikpeazu back for Wednesday's cup quarter-final after the former Cambridge player was injured in the league win over Motherwell – but Levein dismissed suggestions they had missed him badly.

"It's easy to say that obviously when we haven't scored but we had enough opportunities to win the game," he said.

"It was from the tackle with Trevor Carson. I'm hoping he will be alright for Wednesday. As the week wore on, he tried it two or three times and it was getting better but obviously he wasn't quite able to play."

Livingston had their own physical forward in the shape of recent signing Dolly Menga, who forced two decent saves and generally made himself a nuisance to the Hearts defence.

The well-travelled Angola international threw himself into tackles and put in the miles up front before being taken off not long after being booked for a reckless challenge on Michael Smith.

Manager Gary Holt said: "What's been really good is that he has bought into it how we play. He has fitted in great.

"To be fair, the lads in the dressing room have made him aware of how we play. They don't let him rest, they don't let him take it easy in training.

"It's not a new boy coming in and he takes time to settle. We can't have that. We're not a club that can afford to bring people in and let them have two or three weeks to settle in.

"He gets us up the park, his work-rate is phenomenal.

"He is probably a wee bit frustrated that he has not got the goals his play deserves, but I'm a firm believer it's a team game and I say to him I don't care who scores for us.

"If we score, then he's done his job for the team because they all know their jobs."