BRACE FOR IMPACT
JAMIE WALKER bagged his first Hearts double since downing Rangers four years ago to see off Morton, but shooting down Celtic can wait for now.
The winger netted either side of half-time to send Robbie Neilson’s men top of the Championship.
That puts Walker on three for the season, and with the Scottish Cup Final looming large against the Hoops at Hampden in less than two weeks, he’s hit form at the right time.
But Walker is refusing to look past Queen of the South next week with a return to the top flight still the priority.
He said: “I’m delighted. Going into the start of the season I always pride myself on scoring goals.
“I haven’t scored since Inverness in the first Betfred game when I scored the penalty, so I’m delighted to get two and an important three points at a hard place to come.
“Last week against Alloa was very disappointing, my performance personally and the team performance. I go into every game priding myself on goals and assists.
“My first one, I kind of just hit it into the ground.
“I had a few shots before that I caught quite sweet and the keeper saved. That one I’ve mishit but it’s gone in.
“We’ve got another game next week against Queen of the South first so we’re all looking forward to that. The most important one is the league and then we’ll take care of the cup final after that.”
Morton keeper Aidan McAdams kept Hearts out until Walker’s shot bounced into the ground and looped up over him.
Four minutes after halftime he took an Andy Irving pass on his chest and slotted the second into the far corner,
McAdams impressed in front of his old Celtic teammate Craig Gordon, and tipped the Scotland ace to spring a surprise on his old club in the Scottish Cup final.
He said: “Craig had a clean sheet and managed to go away with three points. I’d have liked to have done that.
“It was good to come up against him – an international goalkeeper – and speak to him after the game.
“I worked with Craig for a year at Lennoxtown when I was with Celtic and it was more about watching him in training rather than giving me advice.
“I have studied all the goalkeepers that I’ve been fortunate enough to work wi t h , l e a r n i n g how professional they are both on and off the pitch.
“Craig was great for me. I learned a lot.
“I have a feeling he’ll do really well in the cup final.
“He’ll be looking to prove a few people wrong. He’s a top class goalie and I wish him all the best for it.”