Slow burner Ben’s finally caught fire
Ben Woodburn has been smouldering since he landed from Liverpool – but the attacker is hoping he’s finally caught fire at Tynecastle.
The 22-year-old opened his Hearts goal account as the Jambos roared back to winning form in stunning style as they steamrollered Dundee United.
Woodburn star ted the demolition when he squeezed in the opener then made it a double for 3 - 1 with a sensational volley.
Alex Cochrane notched in between with Stephen Kingsley and Aaron McEneff putting the finishing touches after United make it 2-1 then 3-1 with efforts from Ryan Edwards and Nicky Clark.
But Hearts were worth their win in the end and the Gorgie faithful were beaming about Woodburn’s display, which fired Hearts back up to second in the Premiership.
The attacker said: “I had hoped the goals would have come before now – but it felt good to score.
“I’ve had a few chances that haven’t quite gone for me this year so I felt I deserved one to finally go in the net.
“My shot for the second goal just came off my foot perfectly. I was buzzing.
“I got a bit of confidence and felt good on the pitch.
“It was a good team performance. We had a lot of fun out there and it was an exciting game.
“Hopefully I can take this in to the coming games. As a forward you want to create and score goals and I haven’t quite done that yet.
“So it was nice to get two this time. I wasn’t worried about not scoring before but it’s the best feeling ever when you put them away.”
Woodburn is making the most of his Jambos loan after frustrating spells at Sheffield United, Oxford and Blackpool.
Boss Robbie Neilson is thrilled the quality is shining through as the kid stepped up in the absence of Liam Boyce.
The Jambos gaffer said: “I am delighted for Ben.
“He is a top player. We see that every day in training and it will be a release for him to get off the mark.
“He has been putting a lot of pressure on himself to score and to come up here and do well. I just think the goals were the final thing he needed to release him.
“Af ter the f irst goal he flourished so we will see even more from him now.”
Hearts strolled it at the end but United had made a solid enough start with Declan
Glass testing Craig Gordon from long range and John Souttar superbly sliding in to block an effort from Clark.
But the Jambos had an air of menace about them from early on. Woodburn was lively and Josh Ginnelly looked well in the mood too.
No shock it was these two who hooked up to kick off a three-minute spell that left United in a daze.
Ginnelly found space to slide the ball in to Woodburn’s path, the attacker fired at goal and the ball squirmed under a red-faced Benjamin Siegrist.
A couple of blinks later and it was 2-0 – and again Ginnelly was involved.
His initial cross was blocked but he got a second bite and clipped to the back post where Cochrane a r r ived and smashed a low, bouncing volley in to the bottom corner. United weren’t done though.
Hearts were warned when Gordon needed to produce a ridiculous save to keep out a Clark effort that was bound for the top corner.
But the Scotland keeper was as stunned as everyone inside Tynecastle when Edwards let rip from 30 yards out – and his rocket nicked off Kingsley to divert the ball into the back of the net.
The Jambos kept up the heat though.
Keeper Siegrist was back in the United good books after blocks to deny Barrie McKay then Cammy Devlin,
Ginnelly was involved with both moves and he was howling for a penalty in the build up to the second chance after Scott McMann got in a tangle. The Tangerines suffered the blow of losing Charlie Mulgrew at the break and more pain was on the way.
It was sheer pleasure for Hearts though as Woodburn deliciously stepped on to Tyler Moore’s lay- off following a Jambos corner and coolly sidefooted into the top corner.
The Gorgie men were in control – but just couldn’t shake off United.
Clark hurled himself on the end of Kieran Freeman’s cross to grab one back after a quick-fire counter attack.
It was still a fight but Hearts should have been out of sight. Ginnelly went close again and Beni Baningime prodded wide.
But Kingsley didn’t miss when he arrived at the back post to thump home a header from Cochrane’s cracking free-kick with 14 minutes left.
And even better was to come as sub McEneff was sent scampering through by Gary Mackay- Steven and calmly clipped over Siegrist for the f i f th to complete an impressive job.