Heart
of Midlothian 3 Partick Thistle 0
Ladbrokes
SPFL Premiership, Saturday 22 August 2015 – Tynecastle
For a brief period on Saturday
afternoon, Hearts were knocked off their perch at the top of the Ladbrokes SPFL
Premiership table. League champions Celtic had defeated Dundee United in the
early afternoon kick-off meaning Robbie Neilson’s side – tipped to be champions
earlier this week by former captain Steven Pressley – were in second place
going into the 3.00pm kick-off against Partick Thistle at Tynecastle. Their
fall from top place didn’t last long. By 4.50pm, the marauding maroons were
back on top of the league following a fine 3-0 win over the Jags.
Hearts
had suffered a pre-match blow when the influential Jamie Walker was ruled out
of the game due to a foot injury. Gavin Reilly took his place.
Hearts
normally start games in Gorgie in a frenetic fashion. However, on Saturday it
was Partick Thistle who applied the early pressure although they didn’t
seriously trouble home keeper Neil Alexander. Inevitably, it was Hearts who
came closest to scoring when fine play from the skilful Sam Nicholson was
almost finished off by Juanma.
It
was Sam the Man who almost broke the deadlock after 12 minutes with a ferocious
effort from 20 yards which forced Thistle keeper Cerny to push the ball over the
bar. Next, skilful play by Hearts captain Alim Ozturk found Prince Buaben who
set up a shot for Callum Paterson but the Scotland Under 21 player’s effort on
goal was deflected. Then Juanma found Igor Rossi but the defender showed why he
is a defender when he volleyed an effort wide of goal.
It
was all Hearts now and after 29 minutes, the Maroons duly went ahead. Nicholson’s
corner was headed on by Paterson and as the Thistle defence tried desperately
tried to clear, Osman Sow showed a predator’s instinct by prodding home from
six yards.
Half-time Hearts 1 Partick Thistle 0
After
an initial flurry from the visitors trying to get back into the game, Hearts almost
doubled their lead ten minutes into the second half. Great play from Buaben set
Sam Nicholson free. The young winger hared in on goal and looked certain to
score. However, he pulled his shot agonisingly wide and Tynecastle collectively
groaned.
Nonetheless,
the youngster didn’t let his head go down. Minutes later, Hearts were awarded a
penalty kick when Paterson was brought down in the penalty box. Juamna’s
spot-kick was saved by Cerny but Sam Nicholson was the quickest to react to the
rebound and blasted home for Hearts second goal.
Just
two minutes later, Nicholson was involved again when he played Juanma through
on goal and the Spaniard showed real composure to chip the ball over the
Thistle keeper to make it 3-0 and seal the points for the Maroons.
The
Firhill side have only scored two league goals all season so their chances of
getting anything from the game were slim to say the least. They nearly pulled a
goal back with ten minutes left when substitute Osman headed goalwards but
Hearts young substitute Sean McKirdy cleared off the line.
Gavin
Reilly almost made it 4-0 but the former Queen of the South striker’s fine
effort was pushed away by Cerny.
There
was just enough time for Hearts to introduce yet another product of their
flourishing youth academy when 16-year-old Calumn Morrison was given a late run
out.
At
the end of another fine afternoon, Hearts were back on top of the Ladbrokes
Premiership after a fifth league win on the bounce. Yet, afterwards, Robbie
Neilson was still not entirely happy.
“We
were a bit wasteful in the first half,” he told the official Hearts website.
“We got into good areas but didn’t create a lot of great chances.
We
were OK today, not great. The second half was better in terms of attacking, and
I’m pleased with the clean sheet, but there’s a lot we could have done better.”
It’s
this kind of attitude that will ensure Hearts continue to make such astonishing
progress under Neilson and Craig Levein. A title challenge this season? Perhaps
not. But a top six finish is certainly achievable.
Hearts: Alexander,
Paterson, Ozturk, Rossi, Oshaniwa, Sow (King, 64'), Buaben (McKirdy, 74'),
Gomis, Nicholson, Reilly, Juanma (Morrison, 86').
Partick Thistle: Cerny, Miller, Seaborne, Welsh (Osman, 61'), Booth, Amoo (McDaid,
74'), Bannigan, Doolan, Stevenson (Lawless, 56'), Frans, Fraser.
Referee: John
Beaton
Att:
16,657
Top man:
Sam Nicholson
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