Gnanduillet in debut dreamland with double

REVENGE for Hearts was swift as they eased to victory over Raith Rovers to stretch their lead at the summit of the Championship to nine points.

Stung by defeat at home to the Kirkcaldy side at home at the weekend, the Jambos made amends in perfect fashion.

First-half goals just three minutes apart from Liam Boyce and substitute Euan Henderson ensured there would be no repeat of Saturday’s shock loss.

Raith then saw Regan Hendry sent off after he seemed to kick out at Andy Halliday on the ground just moments after Hearts’ second.

A satisfying night was made better when new signing Armand Gnanduillet added a debut double in the closing stages.

“You want to win every game,” said Hearts manager Robbie Neilson. “It wasn’t about responding, it was about making sure we won. Every game, home or away we are favourites in this league and we have to show that.

“I knew Armand when I was at MK Dons, we played against him, and I’m delighted for him. I knew his physicality, I knew his physique, size and strength and no one else in Scotland has that. If you deliver balls into the box he will take opportunities and he proved that.”

It was pretty much one-way traffic and the pressure finally told in the 36th minute. Boyce executed a 1-2 amidst a crowded penalty box and belted the ball into the roof of the net past the exposed Jamie MacDonald. Moments later, Andy Irving’s in-swinging corner was touched on by Boyce and Henderson bundled over the line for the second.

Frustration got the better of Hendry in the 40th minute when he lashed out at Halliday on the ground to receive his marching orders.

Gnanduillet sprung from the bench to fire the third into top corner after MacDonald had repelled Jamie Walker’s shot and the former Blackpool marksman headed in the fourth in injury-time from Walker’s corner.

Elsewhere, Dundee’s hosting of Ayr United was called off due to a frozen pitch.