GORD’S GIFT
Neilson touts Craig for Scotland after his heroics help Jambos dump Dunfermline
Robbie Neilson has no doubt Craig Gordon should be in the next Scotland squad after a stunning display as Hearts dumped Pars.
The experienced keeper pulled off an unbelievable save to claw out a goalbound Ryan Dow header in the first half.
He made several more to keep the Championship leaders level before Jamie Walker came off the bench to send them 12 points clear with the winner.
Gordon’s reflexes and agility show no signs of deserting him and boss Neilson has called on Steve Clarke to get him back in dark blue when the World Cup qualifiers begin in March.
He said: “I see it every day in training. The more games he gets the sharper he seems to be getting. I’m delighted for him. He said when he came here it was to get first-team football and get in the Scotland squad.
“Watching that there’s no doubt he should be in there.
“Both goalkeepers produced some really good saves. It was a really tight game, as it always is when you are playing a team up at the top of the league beside you.
“Yes, Craig had a couple of good saves but we have come to expect that of him. He had nothing to do at Raith on Tuesday and today he has really helped us get the points.”
Hearts survived a scare in the opening minute when Iain Wilson drove into the box before the ball ricocheted to Declan McManus. He drilled the ball low past Gordon but Michael Smith was in the right place to clear off the line.
Hearts were denied a certain opener when Mihai Popescu met Steven Naismith’s corner, only for Owain Fon Williams to get down and block.
Hearts had Gordon to thank when he somehow managed to tip Dow’s header from pointblank range over the bar, clawing it out and over as the Pars man watched in disbelief.
Both keepers pulled off a string of great stops.
It was going to take a moment of quality to break the deadlock and Walker provided one with nine minutes left.
He produced a wonderful turn to send his man the wrong way before firing across Fon Williams into the corner.
Pars boss Stevie Crawford hai led his side’s battl ing qualities but admitted: “Craig Gordon was magnificent.”