Hearts and Livingston shared the points in a 2-2 draw at Almondvale as the Jambos move top of the league again by a single point.
The Lions struck after five minutes through Stevie May, before Lawrence Shankland netted a headed equaliser to set up an exciting second half.
Claudio Braga notched the Jambos' second early in the second 45, but more rueful defending saw the men in maroon drop their lead once again as Lewis Smith capitalised to end the game in a draw - with a late dismissal for Marc Leonard compounding frustration.
It was a nightmare start to proceedings for the boys in maroon as Livingston claimed the lead after just five minutes. After an initial spell with the ball, possession was conceded to the hosts as Stevie May drilled into the bottom corner of Alex Schwolow's net after failing to properly deal with Fati's cross.
Livi were quick to press their claim again, and quick play brought them right to the Jambos' area just moments later, with a second goal by Mo Sylla denied courtesy of two heroic blocks by Jamie McCart and Craig Halkett.
Hearts tried to mount a response, but after Devlin's ball was slipped to Claudio Braga, the Portuguese marksman could only blast the side netting of Livi's goal after doing well to navigate a crowded goalmouth.
Braga was at the centre of Hearts' next opportunity after 15 minutes of play; forcing a fine stop from Jerome Prior before Alexandros Kyziridis saw his close range effort blocked after a fine run and delivery via Oisin McEntee on the right side.
The Jambos were starting to see more of the ball and another chance went amiss for them five minutes later as Kyziridis eased the ball into the path of Kingsley as Hearts swarmed forward - with his powerful lash going high and wide.
Finally, after such a start, Hearts got themselves back on level terms just before the 25 minute mark courtesy of a sensational header from Lawrence Shankland - the captain pouncing on Marc Leonard's cross to leave Jerome Prior with no hope in the Livi goal.
Hearts still struggled with conversions in the immediate aftermath, with another opportunity squirming away as Shankland's volley from Braga's headed knock-down whizzed past the post by a whisker.
Livingston had Prior to thank once again with five minutes until the break, the 'keeper doing well to get down to his left to divert a Braga daisy cutter that seemed destined for the bottom corner.
HT: Livingston 1-1 Hearts
After a blustery break that saw snow fall from the grey West Lothian sky, the sun finally broke through the clouds as Heart of Midlothian broke through the Livingston rearguard to secure an early second.
A chaotic scene in the Livi box saw Shankland eventually head the ball across goal to a waiting Claudio Braga, who applied a simple finish with his head to send the mammoth Hearts support inside Almondvale into raptures.
Hearts continued to apply the pressure, and Islam Chesnokov saw a fine volley snap into the the gloves of Jerome Prior who made another save, with the offside flag coming to the rescue after the Kazakh international was found to be ahead of play.
The Jambos' joy was short lived, as Livi quickly grabbed the equaliser just moments later - Lewis Smith capitalising on some rueful defending to slice the ball home unmarked after Montano's cross caught Hearts short.
With four minutes of added time, both teams gave it a go, but it was Hearts were dealt one final sucker punch as Marc Leonard's yellow card for a tactical foul against Robbie Muirhead was upgraded to red, VAR penalising the maroon man for denying a goalscoring opportunity in the closing stages of the game.
Livingston: Prior, Kerr (McGowan 77'), Fati, Nouble (Muirhead 77'), Smith, May (Pittman 65'), Finlayson, Sylla, Montano, Wilson, Arfield (Danso 65')
Subs: Smith, McGowan, Pittman, Muirhead, McKay, Bokila, Danso, Zimmerman, Lawal
Hearts: Schwolow, Kingsley (Altena 84'), Halkett, McCart, Shankland, Braga, Devlin (Baningime 89'), McEntee, Leonard, Kyziridis (Spittal 89'), Chesnokov (Kerjota 77')
Subs: Fulton, Baningime, Kabore, Steinwender, Spittal, Forrest, Altena, Kerjota, Mato
Attendance: 8,932
