Hearts limp on in uninspiring draw
Attack fails to gel as visitors muster one shot on target
CAPPIELOW played host to an uninspiring and largely uneventful stalemate last night as champions Hearts continued their underwhelming return to Scotland’s top flight.
They could only muster a solitary shot on target against the side who began the day in the relegation play-off place. Morton were equally stale offensively but defended well to earn a crucial point in their quest for survival.
Robbie Neilson’s side were unchanged from their comprehensive 6-0 win over Alloa. Having risked stumbling over the line in their title bid, the home victory had shown them at their slick and efficient best – features that have been severely lacking in a number of matches this season.
The lingering positivity from their previous win and a pre-match guard of honour was almost quashed within 45 seconds, when the hosts struck the woodwork. A straight ball up the park was flicked into the path of Kalvin Orsi, who rattled Craig Gordon’s righthand post from 10 yards.
That chance certainly reiterated the home side’s intentions. Gus Macpherson’s Morton are in a dogfight with Arbroath and Ayr to determine who finishes in ninth place and were in need of points.
Periods of unthreatening possession followed from the visitors who struggled to find their rhythm on a Cappielow surface that didn’t accommodate passing football. Combined with a dogged and disciplined home side, Hearts struggled to create anything of note.
Gordon was the only keeper called into action, twice gathering the ball from Brian McLean efforts. The central defender curled a tame effort into the grasp of the Scotland stopper from the second phase of a corner, before almost profiting when Armand Gnanduillet hooked a clearance against his midriff.
Morton had more to play for and it was evident. They contested second balls with more vigour and despite a lack of quality at times, their approach play carried a greater urgency than Hearts, who had no shot on or off target recorded by the break.
That was rectified soon after the change of ends however, with Gnanduillet denied by Aidan McAdams. The forward has been a real positive this campaign and was unfortunate to see his snapshot turned behind.
Hearts carried more of a threat after half time, not that the benchmark was high from a drab opening 45 minutes. However, it was fleeting and they soon settled back into the ponderous rhythm that would have led to a plethora of groans directed at televisions.
Neilson had seen enough and on the hour mark, Steven Naismith and Gary MackaySteven were introduced but they weren’t able to aid their side’s quest for a goal.
Hearts will hope their remaining two games of the season will also count as their last Championship action for the foreseeable future. Much improvement is needed however if next season is to be a successful one.
And in the Championship’s other fixture, Dundee’s Lee Ashcroft scored a late equaliser against Inverness to keep the Tayside club’s promotion bid alive.