LOOK NAI FURTHER
Robbie lavishes praise on main man Steven as first-half treble sends Jambos five points clear
ROBBIE NEILSON piled praise on Steven Naismith after the veteran hitman grabbed a first-half hat-trick.
The Scotland international broke the deadlock after 30 minutes and added two more goals before the break to extend Hearts’ lead at the top of the table to five points.
Neilson said: “Naisy is a top player and he still has got that goalscoring ability.
“It’s about trying to keep him as fit as we can and then finding him places on the pitch that he is going to be most influential.
“He’s a guy who can win games for us and he has been great since day one, not just on the pitch but around the place as well.”
Neilson admitted the result was more important than the performance and he added: “We and did all right, we did enough to get the win.
“We spoke at the beginning of the week about how this Christmas period and January is going to be massive for us.
“But I don’t think there will be many DVDs made of that game, that’s for sure.”
Hearts maintained their flawless form in Gorgie and they have now found the net 25 times in six wins at Tynecastle.
The last time these teams locked horns in a league contest at Tynecastle in 1980, Hearts went on to be crowned second-tier champions while Arbroath were relegated. On the current standings, that scenario could play out again.
Hearts struggled to find any fluency to their play during the opening stages as they tried to get to grips with the new-look diamond in midfield that Neilson opted for.
Their first sight of goal did not arrive until the 11th minute. Olly Lee’s cross was headed out to Andy Halliday 25 yards from goal but the stand-in left-back looped a harmless shot over the bar.
Liam Boyce then pulled a half volley wide from the corner of the box before being forced off injured in the 21st minute.
Jamie Walker came off the bench and played his part in the opening goal as Naismith got up and running. Peter Haring played in Walker on the byeline and the forward’s low pass across the sixyard box was tucked away by Naisy.
The former Rangers man then doubled his team’s lead two minutes later. Michael Smith’s deflected shot was directed into Naismith’s path and the attacker headed in at the back post.
Naismith made sure he would be leaving with the match ball after converting a penalty in the 36th minute. Arbroath left-back Colin Hamilton was penalised for handling Andy Irving’s first-time shot from Lee’s corner.
The loss of three goals was enough to make visiting boss Dick Campbell leave his seat in the stand for the dugout.
Within seconds he was booked by referee Nick Walsh for taking his complaints that Naismith was offside for the second too far.
Arbroath reduced their deficit two minutes after the restart with a well-taken goal by Kris Doolan.
Irving made a mess of his attempt to control a Ricky Little free-kick inside in his own box and Doolan picked pi up the loose ball before finding fin the top corner.
But Hearts regrouped and saw out ou the match with the minimum of fuss.
Neilson’s side had a chance to regain re their three-goal cushion but Craig C Wighton was denied by keeper ke Derek Gaston, who easily collected co Wighton’s chip.
Angry Arbroath boss Campbell said: sa “The second goal is the one that th annoyed me in terms of offside.
“I’m told he’s three yards offside and an that finishes the game for me.”